Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti

“A sane person [...] no longer has any sense of friendship; he is prepared to walk over his own dead body,“ says landowner Puntila, trying to avoid “bouts of sobriety.“ Whenever he has been drinking, he becomes a philanthropist. Then he promptly engages several workers, employs the sick out of compassion, and philosophizes about life with his chauffeur, Matti. Puntila's daughter, Eva, tries to keep her father away from alcohol and doubts her engagement to the attaché. She allies herself with Matti, and the two are forced to accept that they are suffering not primarily from Puntila's alcohol abuse, but above all from the rules of capitalism.

Bertolt Brecht wrote MR. PUNTILA AND HIS SERVANT MATTI together with Hella Wulijoki in 1940/41 while in Finnish exile, based on their play “The Sawdust Princess.“

duration: 2 hours 55 minutes - 1 intermission

program

Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti
von Bertolt Brecht mit Musik von Paul Dessau und Pablo Chemor
Volksstück nach Erzählungen und einem Stückentwurf von Hella Wuolijoki 

Place

Wiener Burgtheater – The Stage of Great Drama and Timeless Classics

The Wiener Burgtheater, often referred to as Austria’s "first stage," is one of the most prestigious and influential German-speaking theaters in Europe. Founded in 1741, it has shaped the theatrical landscape for centuries, standing for artistic excellence, literary classics, and contemporary productions.

Located on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, the Burgtheater is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a place where great playwrights such as Goethe, Schiller, Shakespeare, Arthur Schnitzler, Thomas Bernhard, and Elfriede Jelinek come to life through groundbreaking performances. With its renowned ensemble and innovative direction, the theater masterfully combines tradition with modernity, captivating thousands of theatergoers every year.

Getting There by Public Transport

Subway:

• U2 – Rathaus station (approx. 5-minute walk)

• Lines 1, D, 71 – Rathausplatz/Burgtheater stop
• Lines 2, 46 – Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring stop

• Line 13A – Theater in der Josefstadt stop (approx. 10-minute walk)