The contemporary update of the historical “Salon”: Every Sunday, Anna Luca Krassnigg invites personalities from the worlds of art, literature and science to discuss burning issues of the present in the light of the season’s motto. This time we are enriched by Daniela Strigl, Klaus Theweleit, Florian Scheuba, Lisz Hirn, Peter Strasser, Jonas Grethlein, Judith Kohlenberger, Barbara Tóth, Jérôme Junod and Christian Ultsch.
The form of the salon, which undoubtedly has something theatrical about it, aims at a double event: the stage experience as a spark and the public salon as a ritual to further develop the experience and allow it to take effect.
With her renowned guests, theater maker Anna Luca Krassnigg explores varieties of the monstrous and seeks answers to the eternal riddle of man’s dual nature: in ancient myths, in Austria, in complex war and love relationships, in the monstrous events of our time.
Sun 1 March 2026 | 11:30
Sun 8 March 2026 | 11:30
Sun 15 March 2026 | 11:30
Sun 22 March 2026 | 11:30
Sun 29 March 2026 | 11:30
Bahngasse 27, 2700 Wiener Neustadt
approx. 1.5 hours (no intermission)
Normal price: € 10
U25 ticket: € 2.50
For further discounts see here
“Nothing more monstrous than the human being” with Peter Strasser (philosopher) and Florian Scheuba (comedian)
On the first Sunday of the festival – after the premieres of Qualtinger’s “Volksfest” and Kleist’s “Penthesilea” – we discuss the strange abysses of man, be it in moral, social or political terms. Which mechanisms and structures promote man’s terrible possibilities and which can hinder him or even help him to develop his positive potential? And what role does humor play in the face of the monstrous?
We look for answers with the well-known Austrian author, legal and religious philosopher Peter Strasser and the controversial stage magnet Florian Scheuba.
“Male fantasies and angry women” with Daniela Strigl (literary scientist) and Klaus Theweleit (cultural scientist)
The character of Penthesilea, written by a male author, expresses a bundle of “monstrosities”: feminine, foreign, warlike, unruly, non-conformist and ultimately destructive. To what extent are these qualities perceived as particularly threatening and what place can female defiance and female anger claim for themselves in our culture?
We interview the German cult author Klaus Theweleit (“Männerphantasien”) and the brilliant Austrian cultural scientist Daniela Strigl (“Zum Trotz”).
“Austria as a testing ground for the end of the world” with Judith Kohlenberger (cultural scientist and migration researcher) and Barbara Tóth (journalist and historian)
Karl Kraus’ almost 100-year-old description of our country seems to have lost none of its topicality since Kraus and Qualtinger in view of contemporary developments (and export hits such as Jan Marsalek, Karin Kneissl, Martin Sellner and René Benko). Two much sought-after and committed Austrian experts discuss the country’s recent history and the possible cultural causes of egregious phenomena of the Austriakian kind.
“War again? Against the war!” with Lisz Hirn (philosopher) and Christian Ultsch (journalist)
On the basis of the play on war and love “Penthesilea” and the international situation, thought patterns of war but also humanity’s longing for peace will be explored. From the Trojans to today’s battlefields: How much are we shaped by myths, narratives and images and how can we best grasp the reality of war and the real reasoning of peace?
The renowned philosopher and author Lisz Hirn and the head of the foreign affairs department at the daily newspaper Die Presse, Christian Ultsch, approach what is perhaps the most difficult topic of our time.
„Mein Leben mit Troja“ with Jonas Grethlein (classical philologist) and Jérôme Junod (director and playwright)
The Trojan War depicts the archetype of futile war and the fragility of human existence. No myth asks the following questions in such a vivid, disturbing and yet familiar way: What are you doing, man? Why war? Who are our gods? Literature and science star Jonas Grethlein (“My Year with Achilles”) and director Jérôme Junod (“Penthesilea”) join us to discuss their artistic and scientific experiences with the Troy phenomenon and the enduring, fascinating validity of the characters and stories.
Concept and moderation: Anna Luca Krassnigg
Scientific coordination: Jérôme Junod
A production by Wortwiege, funded by the state of Lower Austria and the city of Wiener Neustadt.
The award-winning philosopher Peter Strasser teaches “Philosophy of Law”, “Ethics” and “Religious Thought” at the University of Graz. His most recent books are “Apocalypse and Advent. Why we will have been there”, “Ewigkeitsdrang” and “Über die vorletzten Dinge” were published by Verlag Sonderzahl, Vienna.
Florian Scheuba is an author, cabaret artist, actor and columnist. He is known for his successes in Austrian cabaret, for example with the group “Die Hektiker” or TV satires such as “Die4Da” or “Donnerstalk”. His investigative satirical solo programs are also noteworthy.
Daniela Strigl is a literary scholar, essayist and critic and has been teaching at the Institute for German Studies at the University of Vienna. She was a member of the jury for the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. Her most recent book was “Zum Trotz: Erkundung einer zwiespältigene Eigenschaft” (2025).
Klaus Theweleit is a cultural scientist and writer who teaches at universities in Germany, the USA, Switzerland and Austria. His book “Männerphantasien” (1977/78) is an examination of fascist consciousness and the soldierly characterization of the ego.
Judith Kohlenberger is a sociologist and cultural scientist, heads the Research Institute for Migration and Refugee Research and Management at WU Vienna and is a member of the Integration Council of the City of Vienna. Following “Das Fluchtparadox” (2022), her most recent book was “Migrationspanik” (2025).
Barbara Tóth is a journalist, historian and managing editor of the Viennese city newspaper Falter. She specializes in Austrian contemporary history and politics with a focus on election campaigns, elite and scandal research, new social movements, feminism and right-wing populism.
Christian Ultsch is a journalist, author and deputy editor-in-chief of the “Presse” and head of the foreign policy department. He has interviewed numerous top international politicians – from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bashar al-Asssad and Benjamin Netanyahu to Joschka Fischer, Kofi Annan and Dmytro Kuleba.
Lisz Hirn is a philosopher, publicist, lecturer and podcaster (“Philosophieren mit Hirn”). Teaching assignments have taken her to international universities, for example in Kathmandu, Tokyo, Lima and Morocco. Her most recent book was “Der überschätzte Mensch. Anthropology of vulnerability” (Zsolnay 2023)
Jonas Grethlein is an author and Professor of Greek Literature at the University of Heidelberg. In “My year with Achilles. Die Ilias, der Tod und das Leben” (2022), he uses his own existential experience as a hermeneutical bridge to the Iliad, which he interprets as an epic about the fragility of man.
Jérôme Junod studied philosophy, history and Indology as well as drama directing at the Max Reinhardt Seminar. He works internationally as a director, dramaturge and author. He has been the director and scientific coordinator of Wortwiege since 2025.
