!!!Wandertruppen

Itinerant Theatre Troupes, form of theatre from the early days of 
professional theatre in Europe; the first itinerant theatre troupes in 
Austria were  Commedia dell´arte troupes and the  English 
Comedians. They also took on German members from the beginning of the 
17%%sup th/%  century and began to use the German language; gradually 
Austrian itinerant theatre troupes emerged ("Inspruggische (i.e. 
Innsbruck) Comoedianten"). The troupes performed a limited 
repertory, mainly plays from the English, French, Italian and Spanish 
Renaissance and Baroque theatres, often in distorted translations, and 
in a drastic style of presentation, with a rich variety of costumes. 
The unstable financial situation of the itinerant theatre troupes made 
them increasingly look for opportunities to perform at court and in 
regular theatres. In 1711 J. A.  Stranitzky settled down as the 
first director of an itinerant theatre troupe in the Vienna  
Kaerntnertortheater (Altwiener  Volkstheater); in the 18%%sup th/%  
century efforts were made to improve artistic and social conditions 
(in 1753 K. Ekhof founded the first acting academy; 
"Nationaltheater" movement). Itinerant theatre troupes 
existed until the end of the 19%%sup th/%  century, in Bohemia even 
until after World War II. Today´s touring theatre troupes 
cannot be regarded as true representatives of the traditional 
itinerant theatre.

!Works
M. Brauneck (ed.), Spieltexte der Wanderbuehne, 
vols. I-IV, 1970ff.


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