She starred in films such as "Axolotl Overkill", "Lommbock" and "Steig nicht aus!" And is currently convincing in the family drama "I need you" by Max Färberböck, which can be seen in the ZDF media library. But her great passion belongs on the stage - Mavie Hörbiger (40), an offspring of an actor dynasty, sees the future of theater endangered by the corona crisis. A conversation.
When you watch your latest film “I need you”, which was made before Corona, what do you think when you see so many people in such a small space?
Mavie Hörbiger: What I think of every film or series: distance! But I play theater full-time, and what concerns me more is the question of when we can play again. I can't imagine at the moment that 1200 people will be crowded together in a room to watch a play. Can you imagine it?
Frankly not ...
Hörbiger: That is what worries me a lot: Will we play again, and if so, how? Will people come? Many actors don't earn anything right now. Luckily, I'm firmly committed here at the Burgtheater, I'm short-time working, but I have an income, even if that's not enough in the long run. But I'm not really worried about the income, rather whether my job will still exist in this form? What if no vaccine is found? What if a second or third wave comes?
For now, you would have to play the pieces in front of empty chairs and record them for television or for the web.
Hörbiger: But that's not a theater, the theater thrives on the interaction between the actress and the audience. I also play in “Jedermann” in Salzburg, and the festival management claims that the festival would take place. But who knows? It’s all so frustrating.
Did you find the strict measures taken by the Austrian government to contain the pandemic appropriate?
Hörbiger: I think the government did the right thing, the number of infections has also decreased, a lot is gradually being reopened. But what is proposed for the theaters that they can open again when everyone has 20 square meters for themselves, only a few actors rehearse with each other - I mean, what kind of rehearsals should these be? This is the fatal blow for our industry.
