Theater Forum Schwechat

The Theatre Forum Schwechat stands in the town of Schwechat, a few kilometres south-east of Vienna in Lower Austria. It occupies a former cinema built in the early 1960s by local businessman Franz Kolba and converted in the late 1980s into a cultural venue. The building sits in Ehrenbrunngasse, a quiet street lined with low houses and plane trees. Its 140 seats make it one of the smallest theatres in the region, yet it programmes ambitious work. After floods in 2010 damaged the interior, a full renovation restored the stage and auditorium to modern standards.

The theatre’s reputation rests on its programme of contemporary plays and premieres. Since 2001 it has staged at least two productions each year, one in spring and a classic in autumn, under artistic leaders such as Johannes C. Hoflehner. International links appear in projects like a 2006 Beckett production with artists from Luxembourg. The Schwechater Satire Festival, running since 2002, brings performers from across Europe to the town every summer. Abonnement schemes for theatre, cabaret and premieres attract loyal audiences.

Inside, the auditorium is compact and well-lit, with good sight-lines from every seat. The foyer displays posters of past shows alongside invitations to coming events. Outside, the theatre shares the street with cafés and small shops, so visitors can stroll before or after performances. The surrounding district is calm, with 19th-century villas and modern housing blocks set among green spaces.