Culture tips of the week: Playwrights' festival starts in Graz

Graz, Austria, is currently hosting its Dramatiker:innenfestival, a significant event for contemporary theater that commenced this week. The festival promises a rich program, showcasing new works and engaging audiences with diverse artistic expressions.

A notable production featured is "Kri," a collaborative effort between Next Liberty and the Theater am Ortweinplatz (TaO!). This play, which won the Retzhofer Dramapreis for "Young Audience," delves into the dynamics of a small village confronted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger. The narrative probes how a close-knit community grapples with an inexplicable presence, questioning their tolerance and perception of the unknown.

Directed by Manfred Weissensteiner, "Kri" is scheduled to be performed on Thursday at TaO!, offering audiences a chance to engage with a compelling story about community resilience and adaptation. The festival's broader program includes other cultural highlights, such as the Long Night of Churches, which invites visitors to explore the spiritual and architectural heritage within St. Stephen's Cathedral's dome, and the Vienna Comix event at Marxhalle, catering to enthusiasts of comic culture.