dramagraz
The independent theater dramagraz was founded in 1987 by Ernst M. Binder and Christian Pölzl under the name of forum stadtpark theater. With the self-selected edition of only performing contemporary German-language drama, commissioned pieces were given to lesser-known authors, who were given the opportunity to present their texts to the audience. Established writers such as Peter Handke , Wolfgang Bauer , Dea Loher and Herbert Achternbusch also found a partner in dramagraz with whom they could produce bulky, hard-to-digest texts without the bureaucratic structures and the commercial pressure to succeed in large theaters.
Due to the financial and spatial restrictions of the venue in the Forum Stadtpark at that time, Binder and Pölzl began to intensify the possibility of co-productions with other theaters and cultural institutions in Austria, Germany and Slovenia. The productions - including the world premieres HUNDEMUND by Werner Schwab , THE STONES SINGING by Gert Jonke , LIKE THE WIND IN THE EGG by Yoko Tawada , NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL by Oliver Bukowski , HERR IN SLEEP by Bodo Hell , MANHATTAN MEDEA by Dea Loher and TOTENTROMPETEN (part 1–3) by Einar Schleef were shown in Vienna, Klagenfurt, Schwerin, Gera, Berlin, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, etc., through which the theater gained international recognition as a world premiere.
In 20 years of existence, 79 productions (including 69 world premieres and premieres) have been staged. Regardless of the occupancy figures or the preferences of the feature pages, dramagraz's productions commit themselves to the literary quality of the pieces, the language of the author. In the meantime, Ernst M. Binder, sole artistic director since 1992, has formed a small ensemble of actors from the independent scene who take part in a production several times a year. The minimal effort, which is carried out on the technical and structural side, ensures dramagraz's financial livelihood and guarantees the necessary degree of flexibility and spontaneity of an independent theater.
Prizes, invitations, awards
- 3 invitations to the Mülheimer Theatertreffen ( plays )
- 2 invitations to the Heidelberg Stückemarkt
- 3 nominations for the Berlin Theatertreffen
- 3 invitations to the International Theatertreffen AUA, WE LIVE! in Bern
- 2 invitations to the Duisburg accents
- 2003 State Art Prize of the State of Upper Austria
- 2004 Invitation to the Theatertreffen Forum Free Theater IMPULSE (NRW: Bochum, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Mülheim)
- Several guest performances in Europe as well as numerous staging awards from the federal theater advisory board