A new piece

Contemporary drama is an essential part of the program at the Lower Austria State Theatre. Therefore, since 2012, in collaboration with the State of Lower Austria, a working scholarship has been awarded every two years to promote contemporary drama. The patron and namesake of the award is Peter Turrini, who is considered one of the most important Austrian playwrights of our time. The winner of the 2025 play festival will be supported. The play festival takes place in collaboration with our partners – the DRAMA FORUM of uniT Graz and the Institute for Language Arts at the University of Applied Arts Vienna.

In the 2025 competition for the scholarship, the following plays were submitted: "rummelfantasie (mayday mayday)" by Stephan Langer, "Intendantenwechsel" by Armela Madreiter, "NO MERCY SISTERS" by Marcus Peter Tesch, and "der mund wenn er kippt ist ein teich" by Paula van Well. On May 22, Paula van Well was awarded for the text of "der mund wenn er kippt ist ein teich." The expert jury, consisting of director Anne Bader, author, translator, speaker, and lecturer Martin Thomas Peslund, and Marie Rötzer, the artistic director of the Lower Austria State Theatre, justified their decision as follows:

"der mund wenn er kippt ist ein teich" by Paula van Well is a melancholic, complex text that allows us to look into an old Polaroid camera and tip into childhood memories. Weaving together climate change and personal experiences, the text reconnects us with our own youth, where we felt uniquely out of place and constantly struggled while the rest of the world seemed to function effortlessly. All of this is presented in a language that conjures images in the mind, possessing both a poetry and a lightness – and always a concern about what should be negotiated with the audience. However, the text also presents riddles, much like an opaque puddle – riddles worth solving.

"der mund wenn er kippt ist ein teich" by Paula van Well will have its world premiere on March 7, 2026, directed by Anne Bader at the theater workshop of the Lower Austria State Theatre.

Contributors:
Katharina Rose
Marthe Lola Deutschmann
Julia Kreusch

Direction:
Anne Bader

Set and Costumes:
Andrea Simeon

Dramaturgy:
Sabrina Hofer

Music:
Volker Schmidt