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Programme focus: Communities of Hope

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar

Covid Safe SpaceReading

Mani Owzar's portraits of Swiss activists open up hopeful perspectives without claiming perfection. For those who are unable to attend the reading in person, the event will be streamed via Zoom.

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  • Sat 11/0419:30–21:30

    Followed by a concert with Anouchka Gwen

    Nordflügel

Mani Owzar has portrayed queer, racialised activists from Switzerland and recorded their stories in a book. Copyright: Tren Guerrero
  • Relaxed Setting
  • Hybrid event

Live stream via Zoom

Click this link to access the live stream of the reading ‘Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben’ via Zoom. The stream will begin at 8 pm when the event starts.

The book ‘Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben’ ( ‘I don’t want to write the perfect story’) portrays queer, racialised activists from Switzerland. The term activist is understood very broadly here: it includes both people who distinguish themselves through their commitment to diversity in culture and people who create more visibility for queer, racialized individuals by publicly telling their own stories. It also refers to decision-makers who intervene in Swiss social and political life and actively shape it. The book was written in the context of the attacks on the event series ‘Drag Story Time’ in Zurich and aims to help overcome feelings of powerlessness and inspire new courage. At this reading, Mani Owzar will talk with two people portrayed in the book, Anouchka Gwen and Rahel El-Maawi, about how we can remain hopeful and capable of action.

Afterwards, Anouchka Gwen will play a concert at Nordflügel. All visitors of the reading are invited to stay. The tickets for the reading are valid for the concert.

Schedule

7:30 pm Relaxed entrance
8:00 pm Reading (including a 15-minute break after max. 60 minutes)
9:30 pm End of the reading
10:00 pm Concert with Anouchka Gwen

Covid-safer event

All events in the programme focus Communities of Hope take place as Covid-safer events. Therefore, testing and masks are mandatory for this event. Tests and masks will be provided on site. You can find more information here.

 Information on accessibility and language 

  • Stepless access

  • Language: In German spoken language

  • Relaxed Event: Audience members are welcome to make noises, move, stim and leave the space and come back at any time.

  • Reading with:
    Mani Owzar, Anouchka Gwen, Rahel El-Maawi
    Moderation:
    Mani Owzar

  • Mani Owzar advocates for discrimination-sensitive spaces. It is particularly important to them that discrimination is considered intersectionally. Mani is a co-founder of Diversum, an association for anti-racist thinking. They are active in various projects in the fields of education and culture and are co-author of the book ‘No to racism’ (Foundations for an anti-racist school culture). Mani's second book, ‘Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben’ (english: ‘I don't want to write the perfect story’), which portrays queer people, was published in June 2025.

  • The programme focus Communities of Hope is supported by the Ernst Göhner Foundation.

Gessnerallee programme focus 2025/26

From 9 to 18 April, the programme focus ‘Communities of Hope’ at Gessnerallee invites you to explore practices of solidarity and hopeful strategies for community building, and to celebrate queer aesthetics. All events will take place in a Covid-safer format.

«Belonging Space»
Stephanie Müller & Theres Indermaur
09/04 – 18/04
Installation, Resting space

«MASTEKTOMIE. Ein bittersüsses Abschiedslied»
CHICKS* freies performancekollektiv
09/04, 10/04
Performance

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar
11/04
Reading

«Anouchka Gwen»
11/04
Concert

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar
12/04
Writing workshop

«Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit»
Hadija Haruna-Oelker
16/04
Reading

«JUICE»
River Roux
17/04, 18/04
Performance

More Shows

To the programme overview