Season start 2025/26 – (Un)gentle Learning

«Neutralitätstheater – The myth of Switzerland on the table!»
Hannan Salamat und Fatima Moumouni

An evening about Switzerland's most legendary myth - open, polyphonic, uncomfortable and by no means neutral. A piece of remembrance culture with bright minds from Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Guests include Max Czollek, Edwin Ramirez and Zarina Tadjibaeva.

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  • Thu 09/18 8:00 – 11:00 PM

    Stall6

Copyright: not your bubble

It has long been common knowledge that Switzerland is not as neutral as it pretends to be. Nevertheless, it stubbornly clings to the myth on the official stage - not by accident, but because this story is quite useful: politically, economically, for its image. Neutrality as a brand, as a diplomatic stage, as a mediator pose with a clear conscience. Which stories, which voices disappear in this mantra-like self-presentation? Who remembers - and who is forgotten in the same old theatre of neutrality? At the long table in the middle of the room, bright minds from the worlds of art, science and activism discuss these questions with the audience and guests from the more or less neutral neighbouring countries of Austria and Germany. An evening of dialogue and performance - open, polyphonic, uncomfortable and by no means neutral.

Guests: Max Czollek, Edwin Ramirez, Zarina Tadjibaeva and more

Hosted by Hannan Salamat and Fatima Moumouni

Duration: 180 minutes with intermission

The discursive theatre of neutrality is followed by dancing and partying.

Information on accessibility and language 

  • Relaxed Performance

  • In German spoken language

«Neutralitätstheater – The myth of Switzerland on the table!» is part of the Swiss edition of ‘heimaten’, a decentralised festival of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW, Berlin).

‘heimaten’ sees itself as an artistic-political network project that makes new, pluralistic ideas of belonging, memory and social justice tangible. In local collaborations with artists, activists and institutions, discursive and performative formats are created that question hegemonic narratives. More information on ‘heimaten’: www.hkw.de/heimaten

With the contribution ‘Neutrality Theatre’, not_your_bubble, in collaboration with Gessnerallee and Zwischentext, is bringing the festival to Switzerland for the first time - and expanding the debate on specifically Swiss constructions of identity, memory and neutrality.

At the same time, the project is part of Memory Matters, a programme of the CPPD - Coalition for Pluralistic Public Discourse, which promotes the pluralisation of memory cultures on a European level and facilitates transnational networking.

Credits

Supported by

Gessnerallee season start 2025/26

The (Un)gentle Learning festival will take place at Gessnerallee from 11 to 21 September to mark the start of the season. The festival will explore processes of transition, mourning and learning.

«Stars Are Never Sleeping, Dead Ones and the Living»
Theres Indermaur und Stephanie Müller
09/11 - 09/14
09/18 - 09/21
(Installation)

«Fourth Eye, 4.40 AM»
Ceylan Öztrük
09/11, 09/13, 09/14, 09/15
(Performance)

«PAS MOI»
Diana Anselmo
09/12, 09/13,
(Lecture-Performance)

«Muskeln aus Plastik - eine crip-queere Lesung»
Kay Matter
09/14
(Reading)

«Neutralitätstheater – Mythos Schweiz auf dem Tisch!»
Hannan Salamat und Fatima Moumouni
09/18
(Talk, Performance)

«Sleight of Hand (In deutscher Lautsprache)»
Jo Bannon
09/19
(Installation, Performance)

«Sleight of Hand (In englischer Lautsprache)»
Jo Bannon
09/20
(Installation, Performance)

«When the calabash breaks»
Tiran Willemse und Melika Ngombe Kolongo (Nkisi)
09/20, 09/21
(Performance, Dance)

«KOMMANDO AJAX»
Cemile Sahin
09/21
(Reading)

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