Fräulein Else

First published in 1924, Arthur Schnitzler’s novella *Fräulein Else* remains, even a century later, a perceptive analysis of the abuse of power. Now Julia Riedler joins the ensemble at the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, bringing her exceptional play with her.

An express letter from Vienna ruins Else’s holiday.

Her mother pleads: her father has lost money on a speculative investment – yet again – and 30,000 gulden are needed immediately. Else is to ask the wealthy art dealer Dorsday for the money and thereby save her father from prison. This Dorsday – older, richer and aware of his power – is prepared to help. He has just one condition: he wants to gaze at Else naked for a quarter of an hour.

Schnitzler wrote the story as a consistent, uninterrupted stream of consciousness from the inner perspective of a young woman who realises in real time what is happening to her.

Leonie Böhm and Julia Riedler have jointly brought this stream of consciousness to the stage and developed it further in dialogue with the present day: as a solo performance of incredible intimacy, which makes the questions Else poses to society ring just as loudly today as they did a hundred years ago. For what Else experienced back then is still happening today.

Julia Riedler and Leonie Böhm’s production of *Fräulein Else*, developed at the Volkstheater Wien, is one of the most talked-about productions in German-language theatre at present.

Julia Riedler was named Actress of the Year 2025 for her role as Else, whilst Leonie Böhm was awarded the prize for Best Director.

The production won the Nestroy Prize, was invited to the 2026 Berlin Theatertreffen, and, alongside Berlin, can still be seen in Vienna, Cologne and Munich.