Max Reinhardt Seminar

The Max Reinhardt Seminar stands in Vienna’s 14th district, housed in the Palais Cumberland on Penzingerstraße. Built as an imperial residence, the palace became the home of the drama school in 1940 after moving from the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn. The building reflects the grandeur of earlier centuries while serving a modern purpose. Its halls have echoed with voices of actors and directors for decades. The seminar shares the city with other cultural landmarks, yet remains a quiet focus for theatrical training. The school was founded in 1929 when Max Reinhardt was invited to create a drama seminar at the University of Music and Performing Arts. After his departure in 1937, his widow Helene Thimig led the institution until 1954. Today around forty professors teach a four-year programme, many of them well-known figures in theatre and film. Students choose specialisms after their second term and perform regularly at the nearby Schlosstheater. Among its graduates are Slovak playwright Dávid Paška and Austrian actor Florian Teichtmeister. Visitors find an elegant palace with rooms adapted for rehearsals and classes. The corridors preserve the atmosphere of a historic residence while hosting lively artistic work. Outside, the street remains residential, giving little hint of the creative energy within. The seminar’s connection to Schönbrunn Palace adds a royal dimension to its setting. Here aspiring performers prepare for the stage under guidance from experienced practitioners.