When does the event start?

The introduction begins at 7:30 PM, performance starts at 8:00 PM.

How much do tickets cost?

Tickets are available from €26.40; discounts may be available per the provider.

Is there a book signing or a meet and greet?

No, this is a stage adaptation of the novel; a book signing is not planned.

Is the event location accessible?

The Great Hall is accessible without steps; a barrier-free WC is reachable by elevator. The gallery is not accessible.

Where does the event take place?

At the Pullach Community Center in Isartal, Great Hall, Heilmannstraße 2, 82049 Pullach im Isartal.

How can I get tickets?

Tickets are available online from the provider as well as in advance at the community center; a box office is usually open.

Old Masters in Pullach: Bernhard's Wit, Anger, and Worldview on a Large Stage

Name: Old Masters – Stage Adaptation after Thomas Bernhard
Start: 2026-05-08T22:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-09T00:00:00+02:00
Location: Bürgerhaus Pullach i. Isartal, Großer Saal

An Evening for Language Art and Stage Presence: Bernhard's 'Old Masters' in Pullach

On Friday, May 8, 2026, the Great Hall in the Pullach Community Center will transform into a space for art criticism: The stage adaptation of Thomas Bernhard's novel 'Old Masters' unfolds a reading atmosphere with theatrical precision – a literary experience between comedy and insight, between language art and existential clarity. The introduction begins at 7:30 PM, and the performance starts at 8:00 PM.

Language Music and Sharp Observation

Bernhard's prose pulses like a musical stream. In 'Old Masters', the music critic Reger circles around Tintoretto's 'Portrait of a Bearded Man' in the Vienna Museum of Art History – and thus, around the question of perfection, failure, and comfort. On stage, this narrative concentrates into an intense author-encounter moment: voice, tempo, repetition – the linguistic craftsmanship unfolds a panorama of wit, anger, and worldview.

Stage Adaptation with Intellectual Force

The version developed by Dušan David Pařízek condenses the genre between reading and theater into pointed proximity. Two performers carry the word cascades: a philosopher, a caretaker; thought meets service, polemic meets practice. The intimate atmosphere of the Great Hall underscores the pull of the sentences – a room battle of arguments, a comedy about the tragedy of culture.

Work, Impact, Discourse

Published as a novel in 1985, 'Old Masters' belongs to Bernhard's late creative phase. The author – widely awarded, anchored in the canon – presents a comedic study on art worship, state taste, and individual sovereignty. The literary quality is evident in the relentless syntax, the motivational variation, and the intellectual precision that sharpens the cultural critical discourse to this day.

Atmosphere of Listening

Those who experience Bernhard live on stage encounter the special reading atmosphere: the rhythm of the voice, the breath between the periods, the close proximity to the character Reger. A concentrated presence emerges – an evening that makes thought audible and guides the audience into a demanding yet accessible language architecture.

Conclusion: Visitors can expect a dense, highly musical stage literature experience that bundles humor and depth. 'Old Masters' shows how comedy and insight mutually enhance each other. Experience this powerful encounter with a classic of contemporary literature live in Pullach.