I grew up in Lienz, East Tyrol, and have been working as a director in Austria and internationally since 2007, including at the Burgtheater Vienna, the Salzburg Festival, and the Festival d’Avignon IN. In 2023, I completed my first film, “Gil und Dole”, which was longlisted at the UK Film Festival London and received an ‘Honorable Mention’ at the Female Eye Film Festival in the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto.
Central to my work is observation and movement. My travels have taken me to France, Corsica, Scandinavia, North Africa, India, Japan and Southeast Asia as well as to extended stays in Paris and New York.
At the heart of my work is the encounter with people and the telling of stories that touch a wide audience in a sensual and profound way, strengthening trust in human development.
I currently live in Vienna with my family and two children.
Venues and Festival Appearances
– TIFF Bell Lightbox Toronto
– Bregenz Festival/ Art from the time
– Burgtheater Vienna
– Centre Dramatique National de Normandie-Rouen
– Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg
– Festival d’Avignon, Cours Saint Joseph
– Ludwigsburg Castle Festival
– Wien Modern Music Festival
– Philharmonie Luxembourg
– Raimundspiele Gutenstein
– Salzburg Festival/ Young Directors Project
– Reichenau Festival
– City Theater Klagenfurt
– Thalia Theater Hamburg
– Theater an der Wien
– Theater Jungle Vienna
– Theater Odeon Vienna
– Theater Trier
– Théâtre du Rond Point Paris
– Tyrolean Festival Erl
Studies
Studies in Theater, Film, and Media Studies, French, and Philosophy
University of Vienna, Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III, Université Saint Denis/Paris VIII.
2012 Graduated from the University of Vienna with a thesis titled “Staging Presence.”
Assistant Director at the Burgtheater Vienna
(2005–2009) Including work with Andrea Breth, Stefan Bachmann, Karin Beier, and Jan Bosse. During this time, I also staged my first productions, including my own play “The ability of finding home“.
Staged Readings/ Mises en Lecture
(2004–2007), including the Author Workshops at the Burgtheater Vienna, at the Schauspielhaus Vienna, as well as the play ‘Sept fois sommeil’ at various theater festivals in France.
Theater-Internships
At the Thalia Theater Hamburg (with Andreas Kriegenburg), the Tiroler Festspiele Erl, and the Théâtre de l’Atalante in Paris.
International Theater Workshops
With Peter Brook at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, at the German-French Forum for Young Arts, at the International Visual Theater and the Théâtre du Mouvement in Paris.
International Guest Student
At the International College of Performing Arts in Taipei, with a focus on traditional Peking Opera arts in Taiwan.
Writing
As a writer, I am represented by Thomas Sessler Verlag in Vienna and Rowohlt Theaterverlag.
MUSIC
Music has shaped me since my childhood: I learned the oboe at the Lienz Music School before beginning my vocal training with Josef Oberwalder (Osttiroler Viergesang).
My vocal studies first took me to the École Nationale de Musique de Pantin in Paris, and I completed my studies in 2021 with a degree in “Lieder and Oratorio” at the Conservatory of Church Music in Vienna.
An impression of my work as a singer can be gained from the recording of “Brahms’ Folk Songs” with the Musicbanda Franui, as part of my production “Only one Face” at the Bregenz Festival / Kunst aus der Zeit.
Teaching
I am also dedicated to teaching, having worked as a guest lecturer at the Private University of Vienna and as a university assistant at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. In Vienna, I led the ‘International Masterclass Program’ of my former theater company “Theater Montagnes Russes” where directors from Austria and internationally were invited, creating new working relationships for networking, including film director Adrian Goiginger.
JURY
From 2017 to 2023, I was a jury member at the Federal Ministry for Arts and Culture in the Department of Music and Performing Arts, gaining extensive insight into the Austrian theater landscape.
Speaker
In Vienna I lead the Philosophical Counseling – Stage of Power (Bühne der Macht), where I analyze power dynamics and teach strategies for nonverbal negotiation, including the targeted use of body language. As a speaker, my focus areas are success strategies for women and all topics related to “power competence”.
I completed my training in this field from 2018 to 2024 with business coach and psychotherapist Christine Bauer-Jelinek. I am currently deepening my knowledge in the postgraduate program “Philosophical Practice” at the University of Vienna, under the direction of Konrad Paul Liessmann, among others.
AWARDS
**Longlist UK Film Festival London, in the category “Best Foreign Short”
“Gil und Dole” (2023)
**Honorable Mention, Female Eye Film Festival, Tiff Bell Light Box Toronto
category “Best Foreign Short”
“Gil und Dole” (2022)
** Outstanding Artist Award
“Johanna” (2014)
**Nominated for the Stella Performing Arts Award
“Johanna” (2014)
**Nominated for the Montblanc Young Directors Award
“Lenz” (2012)