Der Herr Karl

Qualtinger’s performance of Herr Karl in 1961 was probably the biggest scandal in Austrian television history. For the first time in the post-war period, the silence was broken over the Nazi era, with the character of Herr Karl representing the average Austrian who went along with the Hitler regime.

What was a scandalous play which then went on to become part of Austria’s cultural heritage has now been transformed into brilliant puppet theatre. Director and puppeteer Nikolaus Habjan has adapted this classic of modern Austrian theatre into a puppet show. Habjan is currently one of the most sought-after performers in the German-speaking world. The puppets that he himself makes are oozing with character and sentiment, and he brings them to life – indeed larger than life – at every performance.