Landestheater Niederösterreich debuts new era with Brecht production

The Landestheater Niederösterreich in St. Pölten has launched its new artistic leadership under Patricia Nickel-Dönicke with a production of Bertolt Brecht’s ‘Arturo Ui’. The play, originally written in 1941 as a parable regarding the rise of power in Germany and Austria, is presented through a collaborative effort involving 11 different directors.

The production utilizes a stage design that incorporates Austrian flags and religious imagery, such as an oversized crucifix, to connect the historical political parable to contemporary contexts. The narrative follows the rise of Arturo Ui, a small-time criminal who uses populist rhetoric, intimidation, and mafia-style tactics to expand his influence within a consortium of vegetable merchants. The staging aims to demonstrate the simplicity and brutality of such power grabs.