‘I love the spotlight’

Dear visitors to Gessnerallee, dear artists

At LAB Junges Theater Zürich, young people between the ages of 14 and 24 work on various theatre projects under professional guidance. The LAB, run by Elina Wunderle, Deborah Imhof and Matthias Nüesch, is a theatre laboratory in which the world we live in is explored through play and rehearsal. In the process, temporary ensembles are formed. 

In the current piece ‘Begehren’, which will be performed at the Gessnerallee on 5, 7, 8 and 9 June (the premiere is already sold out), the actors explore the question of what people desire and what this has to do with fears, desires and the tricky idea of being oneself. Because desire is more than just a wish. Desire is a deep, perhaps even painful longing that is focussed on something that we absolutely want: an object, a relationship, a state. But where does this uncontrollable desire come from? In a world where we are constantly told what we should desire, young people are questioning the authenticity of their own desires and the potential they harbour. 

For our newspaper, author and journalist Anna Miller spoke to three LAB players about life in and outside of the theatre and also about the term ‘desire’. Raven Bühler (20) says: ‘Desire is often so narrowly defined by society, so sexually charged. But I can also desire to go for a walk with someone. As a non-binary person, I want to convey in the play how difficult it is to fulfil society's expectations. I want to build a bridge and question supposed realities.’

You can find more information about the contributions below in the ‘Newspaper’ section. But first, here is the weekly overview of the programme:

Programme recommendations of the week

22, 23 and 25 May, each at 8 pm

‘Eat Me Now!’ by Arlette Dellers, FLUX crew

Queer dancers develop an alternative perspective on hotness, tenderness and sexuality using different movement languages and the lesbian gaze. More information

24 May, 9.30 pm

‘The Other Queen of Memphis - A Film by Luna Mahoux with Chastity Daniels / + Embaci (live)’, Embaci, Luna Mahoux, La Chat, Darius 'Phatmak' Clayton

The film and concert unfold a portrait of diasporic music as a place of memory, resistance and collective imagination. The film will be followed by a conversation with Luna Mahoux, La Chat and Darius ‘Phatmak’ Clayton, moderated by Year-To-Date in English, a poetry reading by Darius ‘Phatmak’ Clayton and a concert by Embaci. More information

25 May, 3 pm  

‘Consensus and desire in ‘Eat Me Now!’ - a workshop by Zwischenwelten x FLUX crew’ by Arlette Dellers from FLUX crew and Sidonia from Zwischenwelten

This workshop for female-identified and/or female-socialised people explores the tension between erotic self-presentation and authenticity. The first part is dedicated to Arlette Dellers inputs on dance and choreography. In the second part, you can engage in verbal and non-verbal dialogue on the subject of consent and desire with Sidonia von Zwischenwelten. More information

25 May, 6 pm

‘WITH OR WITHOUT YOU - a queer crip dance performance’ by Fia Neises

With ‘WITH OR WITHOUT YOU’, the disabled dancers Fia Neises and Irene Giró invite you into spaces of ‘access intimacy’, based on the concept of the disabled and queer author and activist Mia Mingus. Suspended in the air, they surrender to the illusion of independence and disrupt our habits of seeing, hearing and time. More information

Newspaper

‘Ich liebe das Rampenlicht’

In the fourth issue of our newspaper, which will be published at the beginning of June, we are publishing three  LAB actors portraits. They tell us why theatre gives them space and is a place where they can be free. To not be so much in their own heads, to not be so caught up in the expectations of others. To the articles (all only in German) ‘Ich liebe das Rampenlicht’, ‘Auf der Bühne muss ich weniger schauspielern als in der Realität’ and ‘Das Spielen ist meine Medizin, mein Zuhause’

You can order the fourth (and all other) print editions of our newspaper at zeitung@gessnerallee.ch.

Speaking of youth theatre: we already addressed this topic in our second issue. The article ‘Den Jungen fehlt die Bühne’ (‘The stage is missing for the young’) deals with Zurich's children's and youth theatre scene, which needs more support. LAB co-director Deborah Imhof says: ‘An established and culturally recognised children's and youth dance and theatre scene is feasible and not rocket science.’ To the article

Furthermore

Audio description is a way of making visual material accessible to blind and visually impaired people. A sighted person describes their perception of the situation to them. However, in order to create an actual experience, the limitations of description are quickly reached. Blind and visually impaired audiences want to experience theatre in three dimensions. That's why Fia Neises and Liv Schellander are inviting people to spend five days from 26 to 30 August exploring creative dramaturgy for blind and visually impaired audiences. In the workshop ‘Dramaturgy blind inclusive’, they will research formats for inclusive and creative audio description with a mixed group of artists and other interested people of all visual abilities, try them out in a playful way and discuss them. 

Are you curious? Then register by email to workshops@gessnerallee.ch by 22 June. Further information on registration and the workshop can be found on our website. 

In addition, the international production platform FREISCHWIMMEN is launching a new chapter in its support for up-and-coming artists in the independent performing arts with ‘FREISCHWIMMEN light’. Six artists and groups from six different cities have been selected for the 2025/26 period and will now be supported as part of this programme: Caroline Kapp (Munich), DARUM (Vienna), Laura Oppenhäuser (Stuttgart), Mika Bangemann (Berlin), TIGER'S KITCHEN (Düsseldorf) and Fatima Moumouni (Zurich). Further information can be found at: https://freischwimmen.org

We look forward to your visit.

The Gessnerallee team

PS: Since the start of the season last summer, we have already published three issues of our newspaper, and the fourth is currently in production. If you also appreciate good cultural stories and a lovingly produced print newspaper, then subscribe to the Gessnerallee newspaper. You can find all the information on our website.