However, the unlimited trust on the part of the owner is the basis for the future of his job as an administrator. “Obviously this is not the case, so I withdraw my current application to continue my directorship with immediate effect,” says Kusej. “My person and the entire Burgtheater have been dragged into an unspeakable and damaging situation by the belated and lengthy decision-making process about the future of the Burgtheater’s management,” he said.
Thus the Carinthian, born in Wolfsberg in 1961, remains in office for one mandate. Since 2019 he has been director of the Burgtheater, a dream job for every theater producer. But he’s been stuck from the start. The coronavirus pandemic prevented the ensemble from really arriving, growing together and convincing the public. Gaming operations have been marked by closures, postponements, cancellations and restrictions. The way it was handled has drawn criticism, apparently also in politics.
Not an easy start
“Seeking new directions and aesthetics, stepping out of the usual mainstream and exposing myself once again to a certain risk”: Kusej set out with this intention to offer an “appropriate and contemporary programme” that would do justice to the city’s diversity. Kusej began his direction with the premiere of Euripides’ “The Bacchae” in Ulrich Rasche’s production. His first new Viennese production was Kleist’s Hermannschlacht.
It was met with restraint by critics, as was Kusej’s “reencounter” with Theo van Gogh’s “The Interview” after eleven years, which he released in February 2020 at the Academy Theater as a replacement for a Kornel Mundruczo production that had been canceled at short notice. The 2020/21 opening premiere, directed by Kusej himself, Calderon’s “Life is a Dream” was held under CoV conditions with small audiences.
The pandemic has paralyzed the Burgtheater
During the months of the blockade, he never tired of pointing out existing security concepts and demanding that politicians be able to plan ahead. When all boxes were allowed to reopen, the Burgtheater venue was closed for months for renovations. Other theaters streamed shows and pulled old recordings from the archive. The State Opera held performances and premieres in the empty house, broadcast by ORF.
By comparison, the Burgtheater’s activities seemed rather modest. A few special programs, readings and the “Viennese mood” with new texts, which was finally nominated for a special CoV award at “Nestroy”, were all that the house had to offer. Kusej has stated several times that he is not a fan of streaming shows because the theater needed the live character.
“Auto buffet” one of the highlights
The 20/21 and 21/22 seasons brought some highlights. Barbara Frey impressed with Anna Gmeyner’s “Automatenbüfett”, which continued the series of authorial rediscoveries that began with Maria Lazar. In a short time, Frank Castorf brought both Jelinek and Handke to the stage with a grandiose gesture, with “Adern” by the young Lisa Wentz there was a convincing premiere, and Simon Stone remained the guarantor for exciting new writings of classical material.
However, two things have recently put Kusej under increasing pressure: the Volkstheater directed by Kay Voges seemed to be doing better after a rocky start and he brought out some productions that looked much fresher and more aesthetically innovative. And at home, critical voices on the managerial style and the lack of presence of the director have increased. Some departures from the ensemble and the executive plan have been associated with this. Kusej himself rejected it “strongly”.
The direction of the Burgtheater will be presented on Wednesday
Kusej is said to be up on a three-person proposal from a selection committee that was presented to the Greens’ Secretary of State for Arts and Culture, Andrea Mayer. Mayer and the managing director of the Bundestheater Holding Christian Kircher will present the decision on the future management of the Burgtheater on Wednesday. This will be in effect from the 2024/25 season.
Until then, Kusej is expected to continue working as a director. He is not resigning with immediate effect, but intends to fulfill his current contract and continue to be at the helm of the house for the 2023/24 season as planned, he said when asked by the APA at the Burgtheater.
