The programme in June

Dear visitors to Gessnerallee, dear artists

The first season under new management is drawing to a close. And with it ten months full of exciting, dazzling and touching artistic works, full of inspiring dialogue before and after the shows, full of great work by the Gessnerallee team and many wonderful encounters with artists and audiences.

This needs to be celebrated. And for at least a month.

Because there are many more reasons to come together in a wild, gentle and exuberant way and raise a glass to art. Tomorrow, Thursday 5 June, is the premiere of ‘Begehren’ by LAB Junges Theater Zürich. The group has successfully been making theatre with and for young people for 10 years and is therefore celebrating its anniversary. Tim Zulauf/KMU productions have been making theatre and performance for 22 years and are presenting a three-part book project, ‘durch Geräusche / unter Wörtern / in Gesellschaft’, from 5 to 8 June as part of an exhibition. Brücki 235, which presents the diversity of the independent scene and will move into the Gessnerallee between 19 and 22 June with a short play festival, turns two years old.

If you're wondering what it takes for everyone to enjoy a party, then ‘KAFi Q’, the inclusive performance café, is the place for you. Because the summer edition is all about shared enjoyment.

And then, at the end of the month, on 28 June, we'll all be ready to bring the season to a close with a relaxed afternoon at Stall6 and in the Werkstatthof. With delicious drinks and snacks, a vegetarian and non-vegetarian barbecue, ice cream, good music, a galactic sea of fog in the hall, house tours, a craft corner and a mini costume and accessories flea market.

Last but not least: We have 2 vacancies to fill. You can find more information in the ‘Other’ section.

Overview of the programme in June

4 June, 7 pm

‘Un//Masking the Performing Arts - a zine launch and neurodivergent community evening’ by Lovis Heuss

How can Un//Masking* become a creative performance tool? Lovis Heuss and colleagues read texts from the zines and give insights into experiences and findings from the Un//Masking LAB, which took place over 7 days with 8 neurodivergent artists in the Südbühne of the Gessnerallee. (*In psychology masking or camouflaging refers to the suppression of autistic behaviour with the aim of being perceived as neurotypical). More information

4 June, 7 pm

‘Monthly legal advice’ from ARITA

ARITA aims to provide legal support to artists and creators from all disciplines. Since this season it has been offering a consultation hour on the first Wednesday of every month between 7 and 9 pm at Gessnerallee. More information

5 June, 6 to 10 pm, 7 June, 4 to 10 pm, 8 June, 2 to 10 pm

‘durch Geräusche / unter Wörtern / in Gesellschaft’ by Tim Zulauf/KMUProduktionen and Netzwerk

Three-part book project with 16 performances from 22 years as part of an exhibition: 5 video works on the printed theatre projects open up a moving panorama - from Venice's Isle of the Dead to the care and street prostitution debate surrounding Zurich's sex boxes. More information

5 June, 6.30 pm

‘Publizieren - für Öffentlichkeiten sorgen?’ by KMUProduktionen and edition fink

Georg Rutishauser, Tim Zulauf and Lisa Letnansky discuss connections between art and books and explore changes between mediation and politics. More information

5 and 7 June, 8 pm, 8 and 9 June, 6 pm

‘Begehren’ by LAB Junges Theater Zürich

On these dates, the 15 players of LAB explore the question of why we desire what we desire and what this has to do with fears, wishes and the tricky being-one-self. More information

6 and 7 June, 7 pm

‘MITOSIS - a live concert about life, death and transition’ by Brandy Butler

What happens when a diagnosis changes everything? Following the successful performances at the Gessnerallee in April, Brandy Butler's interdisciplinary team presents a passionate live concert about dying at the Citykirche Offener St. Jakob in Zurich.

This event is a cooperation between Offener St. Jakob and Gessnerallee. Tickets are available here. 

8 June, 4 pm

‘Kunstumwelten - Gegenerzählungen zur Gesellschaft’ by KMUProduktionen and Netzwerk

Sabian Baumann (artist*), Anke Hoffmann (mediator, curator), Yves Netzhammer (artist), Christoph Rath (author, director and actor) and Tim Zulauf discuss how their artistic approach feeds on contemporary issues and evokes social resonances through inscriptions or counter-worlds. More information

18 June, 5.30 pm

‘Art in Conflict: Theatre as a motor for political liberation’ by artasfoundation

Artistic creation in crisis regions is confronted with challenging questions. In this series of talks, once a month different actors come together to reflect on their experiences in the form of a table discussion. This time with Iman Aoun (theatre maker) and Toni Shapiro-Phim (Director of the Arts and Peacebuilding Programme and Chair of the minor ‘Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation’, Brandeis University). More information

19 and 20 June, 7 pm, and 21 June, 6 pm

‘2 Jahre Brücki 235 - ein Kurzstückfestival’ by Brücki 235 - Raum von der Szene für die Szene

With the festival ‘2 Jahre Brücki 235’, Zurich's dance and theatre scene moves into the Gessnerallee with a brilliant, diverse programme. This needs to be celebrated! More information

21 June, 3 pm to 7 pm

‘KAFi Q - Summer Edition’ - an inclusive performance café

People with and without disabilities meet at KAFi Q to make art, create magic and dance together. The summer edition is all about ENJOYMENT TOGETHER. What does it take for everyone to enjoy a party? Find out more

28 June, from 3 pm

‘Time to celebrate’: end of season at Gessnerallee

An afternoon for all ages with drinks and snacks, a vegetarian and non-vegetarian barbecue, music, house tours, a craft corner and a mini costume and prop flea market. More information

If you have beautiful items of clothing or accessories lying around at home that you no longer wear, we would be delighted if you could bring them along to our mini flea market and offer them for sale. You can either sell the clothes yourself or price them and hand them over to our team to sell. 

So that we can plan the flea market logistically, we would be pleased if you could send a short registration to veserwalther@gessnerallee.ch by 16 June.

Furthermore

Production Manager 70 - 80%

We are looking for a Production Manager from mid-August 2025. In this position, you will work closely, among others, with the Head of Production Anja Mayer, and will be responsible for the planning, implementation and accounting of the productions of Gessnerallee's theatre, dance and performance programme. The closing date for applications is 19 June 2025. More information on the job advertisement

Communications employee 50 - 60%

From September 2025 we are looking for a Communications employee. In this position, you will work closely with the Head of Communications Rahel Bains and implement Gessnerallee's communication activities. The closing date for applications is 24 June 2025. More information on the job advertisement

We look forward to celebrating with you.

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.