Kosmos Theater Vienna – A new partner and a wonderful place for German speaking theater lovers!
A convincing identity. A carefully prepared story. An audience that needs to believe it. Theatre and espionage have some intriguing things in common—and it is this connection that brought Secret Vienna and Kosmos Theater together.
Our cooperation began with Im Taubenschlag, a production exploring the world of espionage. For Secret Vienna, with our special interest in spying in Vienna and the people behind it, the subject was a natural fit. It also offered a reason to introduce our readers to the theatre itself: a venue in Vienna’s seventh district with a distinct perspective on whose stories deserve a stage.
A Theatre with a Feminist Perspective
Located at Siebensterngasse 42 in Neubau, Kosmos Theater focuses on contemporary drama, feminist perspectives and collaboration with independent artists and collectives. Its programme gives particular space to women and gender minorities, examining power structures both through its productions and in the way theatre is made.
The institution grew out of a campaign led by Barbara Klein and fellow artists to establish a cultural space for women. It opened in 2000 as kosmos.frauenraum, in a building previously occupied by the Kosmos cinema.
That background remains central to its identity. Alongside premieres and new writing, the theatre hosts discussions and events that invite audiences to engage with the questions raised on stage. Selected performances include introductory conversations or discussions afterwards, extending the encounter beyond the final scene.
Im Taubenschlag: Preparing an Operation
In Im Taubenschlag, a young agent learns from an experienced spy. They receive a former Austrian politician who is preparing to deliver an anti-Western propaganda speech at an exhibition opening. The setting is a secret back room; the task is to prepare an operation.
Created by Veronika Glatzner and Barbara Juch, the production examines connections between Cold War espionage and contemporary political conflict. It also considers the overlap between theatrical performance and the arts of persuasion used in spying: how a role is constructed, how credibility is established and why deception can be so compelling.
The subject carries consequences beyond the fascination of secret identities. Propaganda and manipulation are part of the production’s focus, keeping the harm caused by such activities in view.
Veronika Glatzner directs, with dramaturgy and text by Barbara Juch. The cast comprises Ana Grigalashvili, Julia Schranz and Halka Jeřábek Třešňáková.
Why Secret Vienna and Kosmos Theater Belong in the Same Conversation
On our espionage tours, we explore the people, places and events connected with spying in Vienna. Questions of trust, loyalty and the use of information are central to those stories.
Theatre gives us another way to approach these questions. Watching characters present themselves to one another invites us to consider what they reveal, what they conceal and what others are willing to believe. For anyone interested in espionage, that shift from the streets of Vienna to the stage opens up a different conversation about the subject.
This shared interest is the starting point of our partnership with Kosmos Theater. It connects our work introducing Vienna’s espionage stories with a cultural venue willing to examine the subject through contemporary drama.
Planning a Visit
Kosmos Theater primarily addresses German-speaking audiences. English-speaking readers who are considering a performance should check the language and any surtitling arrangements with the theatre before booking.
The programme changes throughout the season. Consult the current schedule for Im Taubenschlag, other productions and accompanying discussions.
Address: Siebensterngasse 42, 1070 Vienna
Programme and tickets: https://kosmostheater.at/spielplan/
About Im Taubenschlag: https://kosmostheater.at/produktion/im-taubenschlag/
For visitors and residents who enjoy exploring Vienna through its cultural life, Kosmos Theater offers a place to continue asking questions—about the stories we hear, the people who tell them and the reasons we believe them.
