This paper investigates the Viennese theatre scene as a part of Austria's Cultural Industries. On the one hand, the aim of this explorative study is to find out which types of cooperation between theatres occur and to analyse the underlying reasons and motives for cooperation. On the other hand the field-actors' perception of competition between theatres in the scene is investigated. The findings show that social networks (social capital) are regarded as very important for success and survival in the theatre scene. Competition comprises four different aspects and occurs as competition for financial supplements, competition for placement on the "market", competition for ideas, including the fear of idea-theft, as well as competition for the Wiener Festwochen. However, the theatre scene seems to be more strongly guided by trust and cooperation than by competition. / Series: Schriftenreihe / Forschungsbereich Wirtschaft und Kultur