In addition, there are the treasured marionettes of the art nouveau artist Richard Teschner, of his fantastic "play of figures."

The museum evolved from the Theater Collection of the Austrian National Library, whose origins go as far back as the Baroque era. In 1923, the collection was enlarged when the theater collection of the famous actor and former director of the Vienna Burgtheater, Hugo Thimig (1854-1944), was bought. In 1938, Stefan Zweig bequeathed his eminent collection of poets' and playwrights' autographs to the museum - before he had to flee the Nazis.

A separate department of the museum is devoted to children - here, children can learn about the world of the stage in a playful way. The branch at Hanuschgasse 3 contains memorial rooms for Max Reinhardt and Emmerich Kálmán as well as a Fritz Wotruba Study Center. In the "Eroica Hall" of the Theater Museum, Beethoven's Third Symphony was performed in 1804, his Fourth Symphony in 1807.

Imperial Palace Overview

Österr. Theatermuseum

1., Lobkowitzplatz 2
U, tram, bus: Karlsplatz/Oper, U1, U3: Stephansplatz
tel. +43 1 525 24-3460

Vienna-Card

Daily except Mon
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Theater Museum for Children and Young People:
Performances, guided tours and workshops by prior arrangement
Tel. +43 1 525 24-5310
www.theatermuseum.at