Next Liberty

The Next Liberty is a children’s and youth theatre located in Graz’s first district, Innere Stadt. It is one of the five most successful in the German-speaking world, with over 65,000 attendees and more than 200 performances every season. The firm is owned by Theaterholding Graz.

The Vereinigte Bühnen Graz established its own venue for children’s and young theater at the old Thalia close to the Graz Opera in 1995. The name is derived from the position adjacent to the lightsaber, a modern steel sculpture by Hartmut Skerbisch patterned after the New York Statue of Liberty (Lady Liberty). The construction of a fitness facility in the Thalia building began in 2011, which caused the games for the 2011/12 season to be relocated to the Graz Stadthalle.The leasing charges have to be borne by the city. The office and stage have been back in the main building since 2013.

Michael Schilhan took over as creative director in 2001 and then as managing director in 2004. His contract was extended for another five years beginning with the 2023/24 season in 2022.

The program focuses on fixed ensemble productions of children’s and youth plays. Some of the plays are also staged on other stages. As part of Next Liberty on Tour, they will be displayed throughout Austria and South Tyrol.