The Back Door

Jakob Nepomuk Eder, born in Vienna in 2000, has been studying acting at the Max Reinhardt Seminar since 2024. He completed his training in photography at the Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt in 2020. At the Max Reinhardt Seminar, he most recently appeared in the pre-diploma production of Philip Ridley’s »Der Disney-Killer« (directed by Julian Rohrmoser). He also featured in the short radio play »Anleitung, sich ein Bett mit dem Winter zu teilen« by Giorgio Ferretti (a co-production between the Schauspielhaus Wien and Radio Ö1).

Emma Meyer, who was born and raised in Greifswald, discovered her passion for ballet at an early age. After leaving school, she gained valuable experience – both on and off stage – at the P14 youth club at the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin. At the same time, she studied Theology and Classical Greek and Greek Literature at Humboldt University in Berlin. She then completed her acting studies at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna. Following an engagement at the Schlosstheater Celle, she returned to the Max Reinhardt Seminar, where she is currently in her second year of studying theatre directing.

Jasmin Thuy Nga Nguyen, born in Meiningen in 2002, gained her first stage experience in various productions at the Staatstheater Meiningen. In 2022, she began studying political science and education at the University of Erfurt, before transferring to the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna in 2024 to study acting. Most recently, she played Merricat in »Wir haben schon immer im Schloss gelebt« by Shirley Jackson (directed by Johanna Theresa Kainz). In addition to German, she speaks fluent English and Vietnamese.

Seide Noffke, born in 2000 in Klein Hansdorf on the outskirts of Hamburg, has been performing on stage since childhood: from the Kleines Theater Bargteheide to the Spielclub at the Thalia Theatre in Hamburg. In 2026, she completed her acting training with a diploma from the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna, where she staged her production of »Antigone« based on Sophocles. In 2024/25, she studied »Physical Theatre« at the École Jacques Lecoq in Avignon.

Gabriel Oceano Schlager, born in Stuttgart in 2001 and raised in Hanover, has been studying at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna since 2022. He gained his first stage experience as a teenager in various productions at the Schauspiel Hannover. He appeared in »Rocco und seine Brüder« (directed by Lars-Ole Walburg) at the Ruhrfestspiele in Recklinghausen in 2016. In 2024, he appeared in »Die Borgias« (directed by Sarantos Georgios Zervoulakos) at the Sommerspiele Melk.

Michael Sturminger was born in Vienna in 1963, where he studied directing and screenwriting at the University of Music and Performing Arts. Since 1990, he has worked as a freelance theater, musical theater, and film director, as well as an author of theater texts, libretti, and screenplays.

Alexandra Althoff studied Applied Theatre Studies at Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Dramaturgy for Media and Theatre at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig, and Film Studies at the Graduate School for Humanities at the University of Amsterdam. As a dramaturg, she has worked at the Schauspiel Köln, Schauspielhaus Bochum, Schauspiel Frankfurt, Residenztheater München, Berliner Ensemble and the Salzburg Festival, amongst others.