Theatre can bring complex realities closer

Stefan Kaegi from Rimini Protokoll in conversation

Rimini Protokoll has almost become a synonym for documentary theatre in the German-speaking world. The artists' collective, consisting of Stefan Kaegi, Helgard Haug and Daniel Wetzel, has been creating innovative and multi-layered theatre pieces, installations, interventions, radio plays and other artistic formats since 2000. What characterises Rimini Protokoll is their unique approach to the themes and casting of their works. Instead of hiring traditional actors, they work with so-called «experts of everyday life». This is also the case in their latest play «This is not a message (Made in Taiwan)», which will be shown during the Zürcher Theater  

PUSHING THE MOVEMENT TO ITS LIMITS

Interview with Jr Maddripp and Adeline Kerry Cruz from «Silent Legacy»

The choreography «Silent Legacy» by Maud Le Pladec feat. Jr Maddripp combines different contemporary dance styles in an intergenerational encounter between dancers of different ages and backgrounds. On one side are the accomplished contemporary dancers Audrey Merilus and Siaska Chareyre and on the other Adeline Kerry Cruz, an 11-year-old dance talent from Montreal, and her mentor Jr Maddripp. 
Together they have created a captivating evening that will celebrate its Swiss premiere on 23 August on the lake stage of the Zürcher Theater Spektakel. Our curator Maria Rößler met with Adeline and Jr Maddripp shortly before their performance in Vienna.  

«I BELIEVE THAT SOME MOMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT THEY CANNOT BE PUT INTO WORDS»

Interview with Mario Banushi

A real discovery in the rich festival programme is the latest production by Mario Banushi, the young star director from Athens. «Taverna Miresia» will be the first time one of his works is shown in Switzerland. Completely without words and with strong imagery and full of melancholic poetry, the piece deals with Banushi's experiences as an immigrant child in Greece, the search for his identity and the longing for his family left behind in Albania. Our curator Lea Loeb spoke to Mario Banushi.  

«In our understanding, we are all part of Gaya»

Interview with the artists Shu Lea Cheang and Dondon Hounwn and the producer Ping-Yi Chen

Based on a partly traditional, partly invented story about the «Hagay» - a group of fluid spirit beings - multimedia artist Shu Lea Cheang and Dondon Hounwn, artist and practicing shaman of the Truku indigenous people, have created together with producer Ping-Yi Chen an artificial universe in three different formats. In an interview with Lea Loeb, they talk about the genesis, the Gaya principle and the power of weaving.  

The respond-ability of co-presence

Essay by Azadee Sharifi

What possibilities does art not only offer to better understand our complicated present, but also to cope with it? Theatre and cultural studies scholar Azadeh Sharifi argues that co-presence, i.e. the joint presence of an audience with the artists during a performance, should not be understood as a passive spectatorship. Instead, participation in an artistic event should be used to question one’s own involvement in social phenomena and power structures and should assume co-responsibility for them.  

«Theatre should be a human right»

Interview with the interdisciplinary artist Tiziano Cruz

After wowing audiences with «Soliloquy» at the Zürcher Theater Spektakel in 2022, Tiziano Cruz is now returning to Switzerland with his latest piece «Wayqeycuna». The works of the interdisciplinary artist, who lives in Buenos Aires, combine visual and theatrical language, performance and artistic intervention in public space. Our curator Lea Loeb conducted an interview with Tiziano Cruz to talk about «Wayqeycuna».  

«This voice cannot be silenced»

Interview with the Polish director Marta Górnicka

For the opening of the festival at the Werfthalle, Polish director Marta Górnika, known for her powerful choral pieces, performs «Mothers. A Song for Wartime» together with 21 women from Belarus, Poland and Ukraine. In powerful, courageous and touching ways, they use the strength of their voices to make an urgent appeal for peace. «'Mothers' is a tribute to the tradition of Ukrainian singing, a living voice that penetrates and moves», says director Marta Górnicka in the exclusive interview with our curator Maria Rößler, «and this voice cannot be silenced.»  

«We dare to dream again»

Interview with the Brazilian choreographer Alice Ripoll

The choreographer, dancer, and movement trainer Alice Ripoll is one of the most significant figures in contemporary dance within Brazil. In August 2024, Alice Ripoll will be a guest at Zürcher Theater Spektakel with her latest work «Zona Franca», that she created together with Companhia Suave. Our curator Lea Loeb spoke to her, among other things about the creation of the piece in an exciting time of transition.  

«Hope is the beginning of everything»

An interview with the Argentinian director Lola Arias

For more than twenty years now, Argentinian director and author Lola Arias has dealt with human experiences and socio-political developments in her plays, films, texts and other art forms. The topics and the development of her works are always based on conversations and experiences with people from all areas of society. For her current community project, Arias has collaborated for years with former Argentinian prisoners.  

Magazin 2023

To the interviews of last years «Magazin» with Jelena Jureša, Amanda Piña, Nicoleta Esinencu, Charles Heller von Border Forensics, Wangari Grace und Sven Kacirek, Renata Carvalho, Robyn Orlin and others