Communities of Hope

Dear visitors to Gessnerallee, dear artists

Anyone who follows the news today finds it hard to remain hopeful. On the international stage: wars and the rise of fascism. In Switzerland: increasing attacks on the rights of marginalised people, including, time and again, queer communities.

Our present is loud. And it is fast. What theatre can offer in contrast is a form of slowness and nuance: the slowness of a rehearsal process, the nuance of a narrative on stage before an audience, the deceleration and polyphony of sitting together and engaging in conversation after a performance or a reading.

As part of the ‘Communities of Hope’ programme focus from 9 to 18 April, we are creating spaces that emphasise precisely these qualities of theatre by cultivating hopeful strategies for community-building and celebrating queer aesthetics.

The first week of “Communities of Hope” opens with a production that focuses on the vital exchanges within and across communities. The concert performance “MASTECTOMY. A bittersweet farewell song” (9 and 10 April) by the Berlin-based group CHICKS* is dedicated to saying goodbye to one’s own breasts – whether due to a genetic risk of breast cancer or a gender transition.

A text that has guided the development of this programme focus and served as a key source of inspiration for its direction is Mani Owzar’s book I Don’t Want to Write the Perfect Story: Queer People for a Fairer Switzerland. At the reading taking place as part of the programme focus, Mani Owzar will join the two subjects of the book, Anouchka Gwen and Rahel El-Maawi, in a discussion about how we can remain hopeful and capable of taking action. The reading of “I don’t want to write the perfect story” (11 April) will be rounded off with a concert by Anouchka Gwen.

Anyone who would like not only to listen but also to write their own, imperfect story can attend Mani Owzar’s writing workshop the very next day, 12 April. Writing for the first time, writing again, writing differently – all levels of experience are welcome.

The second week of “Communities of Hope” also features a performance and a reading: in the solo performance “JUICE” (17 and 18 April), River Roux can be seen in a very confined space, within a completely transparent stage element barely larger than the trapeze suspended within it – with no possibility of hiding from the audience’s gaze. For 70 minutes, River Roux moves, both physically and narratively, on the threshold between heterosexual exhibitionism and intersex self-empowerment, whilst we, as the audience, are confronted with our own desire to categorise hermaphroditic, unreadable and disobedient bodies.

The reading on 16 April from Hadija Haruna-Oelker’s book «Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit» once again brings together the overarching themes of the programme’s focus.

In her text, the political scientist and journalist explores, from her own position as a Black mother of a disabled child, the question of what practices of solidarity we need so that all people in our society can live together in a self-determined way.

During ‘Communities of Hope’, the Südbühne transforms into a sensory space of experience: ‘Belonging Space’ invites visitors to arrive, linger and co-create from 9 to 18 April. A relaxation room with curtains, beanbags and sensory toys offers a place of retreat and relaxation. In the ‘Shadow Worlds’, poetic projections emerge from light and everyday objects, whilst Zen gardens invite tactile exploration. In addition, a craft table invites visitors to get creative: masks are given a glittery makeover, soft fabrics* are embroidered – and between writing and drawing, wishes, thoughts and designs of solidarity emerge, captured in letters or as colourful traces on paper.

Newspaper

Hope as a unifying practice

​​From 9 to 18 April, the ‘Communities of Hope’ programme at the Gessnerallee invites visitors to explore, together, practices of solidarity in coexistence and strategies for hope. Noa Winter offers an in-depth look at the programme. Read the article (only in German)

‘Like after a hug’

Following a break, Anouchka Gwen returns to the stage as a solo artist – with a newfound sense of closeness to herself. The musician talks to Rahel Bains about vulnerability as a strength, belonging within the cultural scene, and why hope is always a collective act. Read the article (only in German)

Being together with differences

Hadija Haruna-Oelker is a journalist and mother of a disabled child. She has a migrant background and knows how important it is to live with one another rather than against one another. Precisely because we are so different, so much separates us. In her profile, author Marah Rikli shows that Haruna-Oelker’s work is less an indictment than an invitation. Read the article (only in German)

Furthermore

‘Undercover Journalism: Insights into Covert Investigations’

Before we head into a long weekend, we look forward to the sixth episode of our ‘Monthly Topics’ series this Wednesday evening at 7.30 pm. Journalists from REFLEKT and the weekly newspaper WOZ will provide insights into an otherwise hidden world based on recent undercover investigations. More information and tickets

We look forward to seeing you there.

The Gessnerallee team