Mario Garzaner

(1965-2026)

(Photo @ LebensGroß)

At TiB, we first worked with Ilse and Kurt Garzaner, and that's how we got to know Mario. Mario performed in Schlingensief's 1995 production “Hurra Jesus, ein Hochkampf” (Hurray Jesus, a High Fight). It was a legendary production by steirischer herbst at the Schauspielhaus Graz. Christoph Schlingensief then hired Mario and his parents for many other projects. The Garzaners performed in Berlin and at the most important theaters and festivals in the German-speaking world. Even back then, it was clear that this was where the most exciting theater was being performed. As the three of them often liked to recount, there were numerous encounters and experiences with artists and actors from theater, television, and film—people whom Schlingensief had gathered around him. Always at the center of it all were people with disabilities. It was a wild and lively circus, and Mario was an actor, presenter, and artist.
I believe that Christoph Schlingensief always saw Kurt and Ilse Garzaner as surrogate parents. He admired Mario for his independence, his humor, and his cleverness, and he also demanded a lot from him.

We personally met Mario during the production of “Das Wunderbare Gasthaus” (The Wonderful Inn). That was in 2003. He was the host and was incredibly charismatic, funny, and unconventional. He was disciplined but still did what he thought was right. Sometimes he refused to do things; he didn't like the wind. After this production, a friendship developed. Mario's theatrical home base was the Mezzanin Theater, right in the neighborhood. Over the years, Mario gave us some of his artistic woodwork at the TiB. We sent each other photos of this woodwork when we heard about his death. We will miss you. Your dancing gait, your leather jacket, an Austrian flag. Peace, Mario!

(a memory from Helmut Köpping)

(We have our texts translated by DeepL)

26. January 2026