Time for Orientation

The world as we know it has come apart at the seams. A power-hungry, unbounded shamelessness reigns on the global political stage. This is currently putting many people in a kind of state of shock. Yuvviki Dioh, diversity agent at the Schauspielhaus, describes the zeitgeist in the column ‘Thoughts on Theatre’ as follows: ‘It is shaping up to be difficult not to fall into a powerlessness that makes us believe we are incapable of acting.’

But despite the difficulties, she finds the beginnings of a hopeful and effective place - in the theatre. "We try to do it, with the community and the collective, with coming together, with listening and learning, with knowledge, with diversity and anti-discrimination and much more. It's often great. We often fail. But we try."

We at Gessnerallee are also trying. For example, in the form of this issue of our newspaper. We are grateful for the voices that come together here.

In an interview with journalist Aleksandra Hiltmann, artist Brandy Butler takes us behind the scenes of the production ‘MITOSIS - an LSD Opera’. It's a conversation about death, fear and LSD. Photographer Hannah Gottschalk visited one of the rehearsals for a dazzling photo essay. We are dealing with death in several productions this season. We are therefore particularly pleased that the philosopher and author Barbara Bleisch and the author and director Deborah Neininger bring us closer to dealing with death in two touching essays.

Another journalistic highlight is the portrait of choreographer, dancer and activist Anna Chiedza Spörri. She is a guest at Gessnerallee with the production ‘PERSPECTIVES’. In it, she overturns norms and shows what it feels like to be exposed to racist microaggressions every day.

In these times, it is also important to look beyond Switzerland: dramaturge Noa Winter talks to choreographer and dancer Chiara Bersani about the difficult situation of disabled artists in Italy and the importance of time in the performing arts. Another interview with the London-based guitarist, singer and producer Alpha Maid focuses on the potential of music as an outlet. In cooperation with the inclusive magazine ‘andererseits’, we take a look at Vienna in the form of experience reports on access to a museum and an art academy.

And we are delighted about the recurring formats and authors: Artist and musician Rada Leu once again delights us with a comic. Technician Corinne Werffeli gives us a nerdy insight into the world of video in an interview with Lise Couchet. And reporter Kim Pittet from the inclusive media project ‘Reporter:innen ohne Barrieren’ writes about the children's play ‘Ich bin Pinguin’ by Leute wie die. Patti Basler and Corinne Sutter show us the horoscopic future. Because when we feel like crying ‘Sharp tongues’ can help.

Thank you for your time and your compass.

Rahel Bains, Kathrin Veser, Miriam Walther