SCHÄXPIR International Theater Festival for Young Audiences June 25-July 5, 2009: The Wrap-up

Press information
6 July 2009

SCHÄXPIR 2009 set a new attendance record despite strong competition from the many other cultural offerings being produced in conjunction with the Capital of Culture year. Almost 20,000 visitors from June 25 to July 5 experienced the fifth edition of this very popular event for young theatergoers. Total attendance at this year's SCHÄXPIR was 19, 843, which represents an increase of almost 3,000 over 2008! Productions during the opening weekend were especially well attended; there were scattered unsold tickets to only a few performances.

Particularly gratifying was the very enthusiastic response by ticket purchasers: all performances in Theater des Kindes, the u\hof: of Landestheaters Linz, the Botanical Garden and House of Stories were sellouts! The Top 10 in absolute numbers were: “Das Schiff” with attendance of about 1,900, followed by “Solar City” (1,000) “RUMOR” and “Wir sind Linz” (900 each), “Love” (600) “A Clockwork Orange” (540), “Pussy n‘ Pimmel” (500), “Me gusta” (400), “Peterchens Mondfahrt” (420) and “Die Erzählung von Haruk” (374).

With eight world premieres, seven co-productions with Linz09, 15 Austrian premieres and three European premieres staged at 17 venues, the Festival could once again confirms its place among the top five festivals of its kind. SCHÄXPIR also made a successful debut as co-producer with four productions created and staged in cooperation with Linz09 and international ensembles.

And that sets the stage for the next SCHÄXPIR in 2011! The sixth edition of Austria's most innovative theater festival for young people is scheduled for June 23-July 3, 2011.