Thomas Bernhard Institute

Thomas Bernhard Institut | © Manuela Seethaler

The Thomas Bernhard Institute at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg is one of Austria's most renowned and innovative places to study contemporary theatre practice.

Three study programmes are offered at the Thomas Bernhard Institute: Acting, Directing and Applied Theatre. All three programmes include a comprehensive range of practical and theoretical subjects, all centred around project based artistic work. Students therefore learn essential technical skills in a real life context, as well as continually refining their reflective capabilities. Right from the outset, our students are free to develop their own artistic practice.

The three programmes encourage an understanding of theatre from different perspectives. Independent performance practice and research projects are just as much part of the studies at Thomas Bernhard Institute as the exploration of the dramatic repertoire, performative interventions in public space and lectures on recent political struggles. Transcultural cooperation and international exchange play an important role in the study programmes at theThomas Bernhard Institute and the department frequently co-operates with international partner institutions such as the Free SZFE Budapest and the E:UTSA network.

As a place of public assembly, theatre maintains strong ties to social reality. The work of the Thomas Bernhard Institute reflects this in both the rehearsal process and the academic debate, constantly addressing issues such as the responsibility and the function of theatre, care for oneself and for each other, recognition of difference and mutual appreciation, the distribution of resources and how to negotiate topics of diversity. Critical awareness and social, political and ecological problems build the common ground for artistic work at the Thomas Bernhard Institute.

Courses

At a glance

16
Productions per year
3
Venues
9
Rehearsal rooms
20
Graduates annually

News

  • The Hero from Next Door (Budapest, in front of SZFE , 8th of February 2021) | © Lázár Todoroff
    9.4.2025

    News
  • © Dariia Samoilenko
    8.4.2025
    Braver than before - Mariia Tkachenko 

    Mariia Tkachenko lived in Kyiv until March 2022, where she received singing and violin lessons as a child and has already appeared in several TV productions. Her acting studies at the I. K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television were interrupted by the war in Ukraine.

    Alumnae & Alumni Stories
  • © Renate Aichinger
    8.4.2025

    How does an acting class work? And what does the end result look like on stage? Find out at the #summercampspecial! Because at the national competition for German-speaking drama students, 19 drama schools from all over the German-speaking world will be presenting their theatre works at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.

    News

Events

  • 28.4.2025
    05:30 pm
    Großes Studio, Applied Theatre
    TheaterLabor X
    TheaterLabor X sees itself as a space for all theatre enthusiasts. The X marks the multiple intersections that arise when people meet under the sign of a common interest. Choreography is practised and tried out, as are writing, speaking, role-playing, games and thematic settings. Preferences are tak
    Open Theatre Lab
    · Free
  • 5.5.2025
    05:30 pm
    Großes Studio, Applied Theatre
    TheaterLabor X
    TheaterLabor X sees itself as a space for all theatre enthusiasts. The X marks the multiple intersections that arise when people meet under the sign of a common interest. Choreography is practised and tried out, as are writing, speaking, role-playing, games and thematic settings. Preferences are tak
    Open Theatre Lab
    · Free
  • 5.5.2025
    06:00 pm
    Theater im KunstQuartier
    Peter Eigelsberger: Salzburg nach der Befreiung
    Das Lager Camp Marcus W. Orr (Lager »Glasenbach«). Eine Veranstaltung von Personenkomitee Stolpersteine, Bund sozialdemokratischer Freiheitskämpfer:innen & KZ-Verband/VdA mit freundlicher Unterstützung des Thomas Bernhard Instituts
    Lecture
    · Free
  • 8.5.2025
    07:30 pm
    Extern
    Jederman
    (Ort: Ehemaliges Cineplexx City Center, Eingang Engelbert-Weiß-Weg) - nach Hugo von Hofmannsthal
  • 9.5.2025
    07:30 pm
    Extern
    Jederman
    (Ort: Ehemaliges Cineplexx City Center, Eingang Engelbert-Weiß-Weg) - nach Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Artistic Theater Practice & Society

Applied Theatre

People

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Andreas Greiml | © Christian Schneider
Andreas Greiml

Department management / overall technical management / Lecturer for stage technology

Service department management
Employee
Faculty
Stephan Pfister | © Christian Schneider
Stephan Pfister

Dispatcher / Assistant to the Head of Department / Lecturer for Cultural Management & Organisation of Work Processes

Employee
Faculty
Employee

Lecturer for Voice Training

Guest lecturer

Lecturer for Voice Training

Guest lecturer
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