10 Years of Theaterherbst Saalfelden Leogang

Theaterherbst Saalfelden Leogang is celebrating its tenth anniversary. As a festival for professional performing arts in the Salzburg region, Theaterherbst brings a diverse range of contemporary theatre beyond the main urban centres and directly into the region.

To mark its anniversary, Theater ecce will present eight projects and 14 performances between 16 and 31 October 2026, involving more than 40 artists. Performances will take place in the theatre tent at the Steinberg Stadium in Leogang and at Kunsthaus Nexus in Saalfelden. Under the theme “Metamorphoses”, the programme ranges from an inclusive Gesamtkunstwerk to poetic circus and acrobatics, as well as theatre, improvisation and contemporary performance formats.

Ten years after its founding, Theaterherbst remains committed to the idea that has shaped the festival from the outset: making diverse forms of performing arts accessible not only in urban centres, but directly in the region itself.

A Fairy Tale Transformed into an Inclusive Gesamtkunstwerk

The festival opens with “The Little Mermaid”, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Theater ecce transforms the familiar story into an inclusive theatrical experience for children, young people and adults. Theatre, acrobatics, dance and live music come together to tell a story of transformation, self-determination and encounters between different worlds.

The underwater world of the production is populated by sea creatures, mermaids, coral, jellyfish, sea monsters and fantastical beings. Conventional categories and assumptions are deliberately called into question. The result is a contemporary fairy tale for the whole family, offering a fresh perspective on Andersen’s story.

“The Little Mermaid” can be seen at the Leogang theatre tent on 16, 17, 24, 25, 29 and 30 October.

Kafka Meets Variety and Acrobatics

On 23 and 28 October, “Kafka Varieté” brings Franz Kafka’s stories together with acrobatics and trapeze. Two acrobats, live piano and acting combine to create a poetic yet existential circus performance. Many of Kafka’s stories are set against the backdrop of circus and variety theatre – here, they are reinterpreted through movement, physicality and association.

Contemporary Circus: Between Objects and Witches

The programme also embraces contemporary circus. The work-in-progress showing “-cosa-” on 21 October explores the significance of objects and our relationship with things. Circus, dance, live music and clowning come together in a poetic, humorous and absurd theatrical world.

On 26 October, “QUEER WITCH” by Duo Skandl takes audiences on a journey combining aerial acrobatics, object manipulation and magic. The production plays with labels and social categories, bringing together humorous, thought-provoking and magical moments in a contemporary circus experience.

Theatre at Kunsthaus Nexus

The anniversary programme at Kunsthaus Nexus in Saalfelden also showcases a variety of theatrical forms. On 17 October, the programme features “Paradise”, a comedy by Emmanuel Robert-Espalieu. It tells the story of two people whose lives could hardly be more different, while exploring questions of intimacy, age and social expectations.

On 20 October, the VOLXTHEATERWERKSTATT Saalfelden, together with Lebenshilfe Salzburg, turns its attention to the theme of mobility. “Behinderte Wege” promises an evening of improvised theatre that tackles a serious subject while also providing plenty of opportunities to laugh. The VOLXTHEATERWERKSTATT sees itself as an open theatre laboratory for people of all ages, regardless of whether they have professional stage experience or simply enjoy theatre. Admission is free, with voluntary donations welcome.

On 27 October, “Tinder – A Fucked Up Night”, a play by Benjamin Blaikner and a production by Theater der Mitte, takes a look at the world of dating on the social media platform Tinder. Against a backdrop of failed encounters and dating mishaps, the production explores how failure can also become the starting point for new insights.

 

Ten Years of Theaterherbst – and a Celebration to Close

For ten years, Theaterherbst Saalfelden Leogang has been a firmly established part of the region’s cultural life. The anniversary coincides with another special milestone: in 2026, Theater ecce is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The anniversary programme will conclude on 31 October with “Ein ganz normales Fest” (“A Completely Normal Celebration”) at the theatre tent. With this event, Theaterherbst will ultimately become a theatre festival in the fullest sense – a celebration for audiences, artists, long-standing partners and everyone who has helped shape and support the festival over the past decade.

Ten years of Theaterherbst Saalfelden Leogang: an anniversary programme about transformation, encounters and the many ways of experiencing theatre – in the tent, at Kunsthaus Nexus and right in the heart of the region.