"X Wohnungen", translated as "X Apartments" or "X Homes", is an exceptional form of contemporary theater. Different artists are asked to create short performances, installations or interventions in private homes of a chosen, often infamous, neighborhood. The audience has to walk on their own from one performance to the next, exploring on their way the public space of the city and the everyday reality of the neighborhood. Invented by Matthias Lilienthal in 2002 for the "Theater der Welt"

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... , "X Wohnungen" has repeatedly been adapted for various cities all over the world. What is conspicuous about "X Wohnungen" is the overlap of private and public space: the audience moves through public space while the homes visited are private, but they might become public as well when there are strangers present. This thesis examines this overlap on the basis of "X Wohnungen" in Vienna in September 2009. First "X Wohnungen" itself is described and the history of its origin. In addition, a chronological overview of all productions up to now, including dates, names and sources, is presented in the appendix. A theoretical part defines the terms "space", "public" and "private" in relation to "X Wohnungen". In the analysis of individual contributions the artistic reflection of everyday life in the neighborhood as well as the use, deconstruction and creation of private and public space receives special attention. It shows that artists find very different ways to approach the same subject and that some even make the ambivalence of public and private space itself their topic. Searching for similar contemporary projects shows how singular "X Wohnungen" actually is.