
Raimund Theater
Vienna´s first musical theatre
Renovation of the Raimund Theater in the final phase

Historical musical theatre soon in new splendor
The Raimund Theater of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW), a Wien Holding company, has been completely refurbished since July 2019. After a 15-month renovation period, the renovation of the historical theater is now entering the final phase.
On Thursday, October 1, 2020, Peter HANKE (Executive City Councillor), Kurt GOLLOWITZER (CEO of the Wien Holding) and Markus RUMELHART (District Leader) were able to get an idea of the status of the work on site. They were accompanied by Franz PATAY (CEO of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien) and Christian STRUPPECK (Artistic Director Ronacher & Raimund Theater).
You can find more information about the press event on October 1, 2020 here.
If you have any questions, please contact raimundtheater@vbw.at.
Location & directions
Raimund Theater
Wallgasse 18-20
1060 Wien48.192216.34
Public transport
U3/ U6 (Westbahnhof)
U6 (Gumpendorfer Gürtel)
Autobus 57A (Gumpendorfer Straße)
Parking
Parking
Kurzparkzone(short-term parking zone) in the 6th district, as well as all other districts within the "Gürtel", Monday to Friday (workdays) from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Parking tickets can be bought at any tobacconist.
Parking Garage
Affordable parking possibilities with the Theatre Park Bonus Card at
APCOA Parking Garage Mariahilfer Platzl
(Address: Mariahilferstraße 123, 1060 Vienna) - only 5 minutes away from RAIMUND THEATER - at the reduced rate of only € 5.50
Valid on performance days from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. the next morning.
The Theatre Park Bonus Card is available at the Box Office at RAIMUND THEATER and during the intermission at the souvenir shop on the ground floor (cash only).
To take benefit of this offer, one must also take a normal parking ticket when entering the garage!
ATTENTION! The garage entrance is only accessible from the junction at Mariahilferstraße and Millergasse.
NEW!
When visiting a weekend afternoon matineé performance,
you may park at the APCOA-GARAGE Mariahilfer Platzl from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. for only € 5,50 with the THEATRE PARK BONUS CARD.
Collect your THEATRE PARK BONUS CARD from either the Box Office or Souvenir Shop at RAIMUND THEATER.
Alternative parking garages in the area
Garage Hotel Ibis
Mariahilfer Gürtel 22
Price: € 2,90 per hour, please pay at reception.
Garage Mariahilfer-Platz
Mariahilfer Straße 123
Price: € 3,- per hour
Prices are subject to change!
Wheelchair access
Parking in Mittelgasse (with barrier-free entrance)
Tour Buses
Information about embarking and disembarking, parking as well as a wealth of other useful information -
Vienna Bus Info >>
Opening hours
Box office:
Monday through Saturday 14:00 – 18:00 Uhr
Sundays and public holidays on performance days 14:00 – 18:00
In addition to the VBW ticket offices Ronacher and Theater an der Wien, the Wien-Ticket Pavillon is also available to our customers.
Before performances:
1,5 hour before the start of the performance
Technical specifications
Capacity: ca. 1.180 seats
Season: All-year, max. 7 or 8 performances per week, no performances on Mondays
Proscenium Arch: Width 13 m, max. height 9 m
Stage: Depth 12 m, rear stage 11 m
Cylindrical revolving stage, diameter 14 m, two stage lifts 10 x 4 m
Grid Height: 21 m, 68 hoists
Orchestra Pit: max. 70 musicians
Lighting Fixtures: Lighting Console: HOG IPC, 540 dimmers, 74 moving lights, 400 conventional spots, 4 follow spots
Projection Facilities: 2 Beamer 12000 Lumen, 2 Beamer 6000 Lumen, 1 Media-Server/Manager Pandorras Box
Sound Production Console: Salzbrenner Stagetec Aurus, Digital Mixing Desk with 224 Inputs, 176 Outputs und 128 Mix Buses
History
The founding years
In the year of 1890, a group of Viennese joined together to create a "Viennese popular theatre club" outside the city centre. This was designed for a wide circle of visitors, especially from the "lower classes". At highly reduced, affordable prices one could view patriotic folk tales, both told and sung, join in singing games and experience relevant works all in the field of folk music.
Designed by the architect Franz Roth, the RAIMUND THEATER was finally opened on the 28th November 1893 with Ferdinand Raimund's - the namesake of honour - rarely performed magical play The tethered imagination.
As the first director, writer and critic Adam Müller-Guttenbrunn worked effectively until 1896 in the championing of the idea of a theater for the people, thereby making a name for himself through the nurturing of Viennese folk works. His aim was to establish the new house as a theatrical stage for these classical folk plays. A counterpart to the court’s Burgtheater on the one hand and for light entertainment and variety on the other. Even in the early years, big stage stars were to be seen at RAIMUND THEATER including "the" Eleonora Duse, Adele Sandrock, Alexander Girardi and the later world-famous Max Reinhardt.
The Operetta Theatre
Around the turn of the century, the Viennese public’s favour turned increasingly towards the operetta. Spoken theatre was barely able to lure an audience into the house. This development forced the operators of the theatre eventually to lease to a consortium, to which - among others - Wilhelm Karczag belonged. Having already leased the “Theater an der Wien” and the “Stadttheater” meant that he essentially held all of the Viennese operettas in his hands. 1908 thereby marks the move to Operetta within the RAIMUND THEATER.
The success was so overwhelming that some performances were often played for months en-suite. Operettas subsequently dominated the Schedule, works by Johann Strauss, Robert Stolz – whose Premier of The Glücksmädel was performed in RAIMUND THEATER, 1910 - ,and other composers of the time were seen. The greatest success however was celebrated with The House of three girls based on themes by Franz Schubert, with over 1200 performances from 1916-1927.
It was not until the later, 1921-1924, under director Rudolf Beer that theatrical spoken pieces were once again increasing performed at RAIMUND THEATER. Having been spared from destruction during the war of bombs, the theatre was able to immediately operate once again after the war and opened with The House of three girls on the 25th April 1945.
In 1948, Rudolf Marik took over as Director of the RAIMUND THEATER for a period of almost 30 years, during which time he built up its reputation as being the only internationally recognized stage within the German-speaking world that played solely operettas. The biggest stars of the genre, including Marika Rokk, Zarah Leander and Johannes Heesters performed here as well as some famous actors, such as Hansi Niese, Paula Wessely, Attila Hoerbiger and Karl Skraup who began their great careers here.
Home of Musical Theatre
It was not until 1976 that RAMINUD THEATER began occasionally adding musicals to its repertoire, such as Kurt Weills’ Lady in the Dark. Between 1984 and 1985 RAIMUND THEATER was renovated. In 1987, it was incorporated into the VBW and has since become a well-established venue for large musical productions.
A Chorus Line, was the very first Broadway hit to be performed at the RAIMUND THEATER from 16th October 1987 until 1st July 1988. Thereafter, Les Misérables followed from 15th September 1988 until 31st March 1990, with Andrew Lloyd Webbers Phantom of the Opera close on its heels from 9th June 1990 until 30th June 1993. From 28th September 1995 until 29th June 1997 the first ever Disney production filled the stage with the spectacular musical, Beauty and the Beast.
On the 4th October 1997 Roman Polanskis Musical version of his Cult Film from the 60’s, TANZ DER VAMPIRE (Dance of the Vampires) celebrated its opening night. By 15th January 2000, more than 800.000 visitors had appreciated the internationally acclaimed musical in RAIMUND THEATER.
From 3rd March 2000 until 14th January 2001, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was performed, followed by the new version of the legendary Hippy Musical Hair from 10 March 2001 until 30 June 2002. On 29th September 2002 Rainhard Fendrich & Harold Faltermayer witnessed the opening night of their first Musical Wake Up! which ran until 1st January 2004. From 11th March 2004 until 1st January 2005 Dave Stewarts Barbarella followed as the next production. On 24th February 2005, the first german version of Romeo and Juliette was performed. The spectacular musical version of Shakespeare’s romantic drama ran until 8th July 2006, followed by the opening night of Michael Kunzes & Sylvester Levays Rebecca on 28th September 2006. For half a year from early 2008, the Queen Musical, We will rock you was our guest of honour only to be followed once more from September through to 30th December 2008 by the return of the World-class musical, Rebecca. On the 26th February 2009 Rudolf – Affaire Mayerling performed its first ever premier.
On 17th March 2010 the opening night of ICH WAR NOCH NIEMALS IN NEW YORK took place at the Raimund Theater. The famous musical ELISABETH celebrated its acclaimed premiere on 5th September 2012 on the occaison of the 20th anniversary and was on the program until 1st February 2014. On 14th March 2014 MAMMA MIA!, a musical comedy with 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits, celebrated its opening night. On 24th September 2015 the successful musical MOZART! returned to the place of its origin, Vienna. The world premiere of SCHIKANEDER - the turbulent love story behind the magic flute took place on 30th September 2016 and was on stage at the Raimund Theater until June 2017. On 16th September 16 the successful production I AM FROM AUSTRIA celebrated its world premiere in Vienna with the greatest hits by Rainhard Fendrich and was on the program until June 2019. Then the renovation and modernization of the Raimund Theater started. In the 2021/22 muscial season, MISS SAIGON, Cameron Mackintosh’s global smash hit production, will be in Vienna for the first time and can be experienced in the newly renovated Raimund Theater.
Photos
Current shows
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Miss Saigon
The most moving love story of our time
Raimund TheaterWallgasse 18-20Wien1060
More information
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We Are Musical - The Next Generation 2022
in June in Raimund Theatre
Raimund TheaterWallgasse 18-20Wien1060
20.06.2022
More information
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REBECCA
Finally back in Vienna from September 2022
Raimund TheaterWallgasse 18-20Wien1060
More information
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