Linz State Theatre

The Linz State Theatre stands in Upper Austria’s provincial capital, Linz, and is the largest theatre in the region. It occupies three separate venues: the Musiktheater am Volksgarten, the Schauspielhaus on the Promenade, and the Kammerspiele nearby. The theatre is run by OÖ Theater und Orchester, which also manages the Bruckner Orchester Linz. All three venues belong to the province of Upper Austria through its holding company. The buildings sit close to the Danube and the old town centre. The theatre’s history goes back to the 18th century, when touring troupes used temporary spaces while permanent halls were built. Johann Matthias Krinner proposed a proper theatre in 1751, and Johann Franz Achaz von Stiebar pushed the project forward. The Redoutensaal became a theatre hall in 1788, and in 1803 the Landständisches Theater opened with an Empire-style façade. Bertolt Brecht’s first Austrian performance took place here in 1923. After mid-century rebuilding by Clemens Holzmeister, the theatre gained modern foyers and underground links. Visitors find three distinct stages. The Musiktheater am Volksgarten presents large-scale opera and musicals. The Schauspielhaus stages drama and plays, including Shakespeare’s The Tempest after its 2017 reopening. The Kammerspiele offers smaller productions and experimental work in a glass-fronted foyer. Between shows, the forecourt’s seating steps and underground passage provide sheltered meeting places. The buildings recall their 19th-century origins while serving today’s audiences.