Brut
brut is a production and performance venue for the performative arts in Vienna. Since its inception in 2007, it has been among the most influential places in the independent performance, dance, and theatre scene. The brut programme stands for experimentation and interdisciplinarity as it showcases the free scene’s diverse and differential character. In addition to productions for theatre spaces, brut realises site-specific projects and places an increased focus on process-oriented working, dialogues with the city, temporary performance sites, co-operation with institutions from related disciplines, and theory.
A number of independent artists from Vienna and Austria have been accompanied by brut as a co-production partner for many years. A good share of brut’s productions are international co-productions touring prestigious festivals and venues across the continent. Vice versa, brut enriches and stimulates the Vienna scene by inviting international guest performances, realising co-productions with artists from all over Europe, and committing itself to continuous engagement in EU-wide networks.
In 2017, brut had to move out of its main venue at the Künstlerhaus due to the general renovation of the building. Since then, brut’s focus was mostly on realising productions at various temporary venues and site-specific projects. The matter of finding a new permanent place for brut was decided in September 2020. From March 2021 to 2023, brut will perform at its new temporary headquarters, “brut nordwest”, thus putting an industrial building in Vienna-Brigittenau to interim use. Finally, from 2024, brut will have a new permanent venue at the former St. Marx branch of the Austrian Central Bank in the 3rd District.
Kira Kirsch has been the appointed artistic director and manager of brut since 2015, Richard Schweitzer has been the commercial manager since 2014. The largest share of brut’s funding comes from the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs. brut is a non-profit limited liability company; its artistic director is appointed by Vienna’s City Councillor for Culture on recommendation by the Wiener Theaterverein. In January 2022, the artistic direction of Kira Kirsch was extended by the City of Vienna until the end of the 2025/26 season to ensure continuity during the planning and transition phase to the new location in St. Marx.
brut is a founding member of PAKT WIEN Plattform der Häuser darstellender Künste and also part of Be SpectACTive! and Die Vielen. (2022)
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