TU Wien and Portraittheater Premiered Inventors Play
On September 28, 2026, the Vienna-based portraittheater, TU Wien, and Theater Drachengasse premiered the play “Das hat doch eine Frau erfunden!” in the TVFA-Halle of TU Wien. Directed by Margit Mezgolich and performed by actress Anita Zieher, the production highlights historical female inventors such as Ada Lovelace, Mária Telkes, Josephine Cochrane, and Slawa Duldig to address systemic gaps in technical history.
While engineering firms and technical universities frequently project an image of institutional neutrality, the lived experiences of female researchers often involve structural barriers and lack of visibility.
Stage Production Details and High Demand
Due to high public interest following the September 28 premiere, a second performance took place on September 29, 2026. Anita Zieher, founder and head of portraittheater, notes that the production aims to make the human stories behind inventions accessible and engaging. The initiative builds on a longstanding partnership with the Gender Equality Office at TU Wien, which previously collaborated on the 2014 theater piece “Curie_Meitner_Lamarr” presented during the 8th European Conference on Gender Equality in Higher Education.
Institutional Rationale for Artistic Outreach
Dinah Gaffal of TU Wien explains that artistic formats make complex gender and diversity topics tangible, lowering the threshold for engagement compared to traditional panel discussions or information sessions. By observing staged scenarios of bias and stereotyping, audiences gain a clearer perspective on workplace dynamics. These theatrical methods help build institutional empathy and raise awareness of power imbalances within scientific environments.
Upcoming Performances and Future Outlook
Following the initial university runs, the production moves to Theater Drachengasse starting in November 2026. Current schedules and ticketing information are maintained through Anita Zieher’s official program schedule. Administrative inquiries regarding the university partnership can be directed to the Gender Equality Office at TU Wien.