A place for all ages

Dear visitors to Gessnerallee, dear artists

The start to the new year at Gessnerallee couldn't have looked better. Sold-out performances and a melancholy feeling of vertigo with ‘Tourist Trap’ by Thom Luz & Ensemble and a packed Stall6 on Saturday with KAFi Q. Including a talk disco, dancing between discussions, free cake, Uno game sessions, mandala painting and a quiet corner that was taken over by children as a play area.

The coming together of different people, the clash of different needs and preferences and the resulting warm and exuberant atmosphere is incredibly fun for us. Since the start of the season, we have been working on how we can make the Gessnerallee a place where as many people as possible feel welcome and included. Last weekend, we took a step forward in this endeavour.

In the design of the programme, but also in our communication of certain works, we focus on offering a programme for an audience between the ages of 5 to 105 years. Over the next few months, we will be showing programme items specifically for a young audience. Such as the spoken word performance ‘COLD’ by Fatima Moumouni and Laurin Buser (from 16 years), the children's play ‘Ich bin Pinguin’ by the group Leute wie die (from 4 years) and the work ‘PERSPECTIVES’ by choreographer Anna Chiedza Spörri (from 14 years). We are working together with the Canton of Zurich's Department of Schule+Kultur and Schulkultur to organise these performances, and we are delighted that so many school and kindergarten classes have taken up our offer. Because, as journalist Jenny Bargetzi rightly headlines in the second issue of the Gessnerallee Zeitung: ‘Den Jungen fehlt die Bühne’.

The performances of ‘COLD’ and ‘Ich bin Pinguin’ are already sold out. Experience shows that it's worth coming by when the box office opens to get hold of any remaining tickets.

Now for the weekly overview of programme items, newspaper articles, news and everything we want to share with you:

Programme recommendations for this and the coming two weeks

15 and 16 January, both at 8 pm

‘COLD’ - the new spoken word show by Fatima Moumouni & Laurin Buser

The poetic and humorous hit show against indifference is back at Gessnerallee. The performances are sold out. Last tickets at the box office. More information

22 to 25 January

‘Ich bin Pinguin’ by Leute wie die

A story about differences in friendship and family for people aged 4 and over. Told without a spoken word. The performances are sold out. Last tickets at the box office on 25 January. More information

30 January and 1 February

Sonic Matter with the Ensemble Eklekto and ‘Die Insel’ by [in]operabilities

As part of our cooperation with the Sonic Matter festival, we will be showing the concert performance (f)LUX by Ensemble Eklekto on 30 January and a double bill of the music theatre production ‘Die Insel’ by [in]operabilities on 1 February. Experimental music at its best!

Newspaper

‘Den Jungen fehlt die Bühne’

Zurich's theatre scene is flourishing, but children and young people have some catching up to do. More support and new ways of reaching young people are needed. Journalist Jenny Bargetzi has done some research. To the article

Furthermore

We are delighted that Grube[n] in Binz is a new versatile space for meetings and contemporary art. If you would like to take part, you can apply to two of the current open calls:

• Phase 1: Wet season (January to March 2025): Creative ideas are being sought for the cold months to bring the former car workshop through hibernation. Non-nude drawing in down jackets, New Year rituals, mulled wine raves. Projects for this phase can be submitted on an ongoing basis.

• Phase 2: Dry season (April to October 2025): For the warm months programme, the Grube[n] is looking for exhibitions, theatre performances, film screenings, music events, performances, podiums, community events, and interdisciplinary wafting. The deadline for projects is 1 February 2025.

More information on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grubenstrasse39/, Telegram: https://t.me/+ylGSGVzja0c1MzE6 or via email: gruben.zh@gmail.com

And: On 21 January at 6.30 pm in the north wing, the general meeting of t. Zürich, the professional and industry association of all those involved in professional independent theatre. All members and those who want to become members are cordially invited. A new board will be elected and the present and future of the Zurich theatre landscape will be discussed in a relaxed atmosphere.

We look forward to seeing you again.

The Gessnerallee team

PS: Do you enjoy good cultural stories? Or do you know someone who doesn't like going to the theatre that much, but enjoys reading? Then we recommend a subscription to our printed newspaper, which is published four times a season. It costs CHF 20 (excl. postage) and you can order it directly at zeitung@gessnerallee.ch.