Zentral

Street Art, Performances, Concerts, Late Nights and more

For children and families

In the centre of the festival action! On the Zentral stages, we present a daily changing programme of theatre, dance, acrobatics, performance art, concerts and late night shows. The programme selection is multi-faceted, inclusive, multilingual, political, diverse and colourful, and offers something suitable for all age groups. In addition to the programme listed here, you can also marvel at the various street artists performing in the outdoor space.

NINA EVELYN PFÜLLER & ROSINE PONTI

Unheard Frequencies

Thu 15. und Fri 16.8. / 25 Min.

A tribute to the ingenuity of insects and a wake-up call to our society causing the extinction of species. The dancers transform themselves into insect-like creatures, allowing for a shift in our perspectives.

AEROPHILIA

Love&Rage

Do 15., Sa 17. und So 18.8. / 25 Min.

A show full of love, anger and aerial acrobatics. Two non-binary people on a trapeze and vertical bar focus on the desire for tolerance, the importance of community and the everyday cruelties queer people are exposed to.

OLEKANONE & NOVA

Concert

Thu  15.8. / 60 Min.

These Zurich rappers express social criticism, humour and good vibes to beautiful and ugly beats – for singing along, laughing and crying.

 

AEROPHILIA

Airy Superhero & Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds

Fri 16. und Mo 19.8. / 15 min. each

1. This world must change! Airy Superhero fights against all the injustices of this world with plenty of feminist power. Pure action on the trapeze.

2. You remember those cut-out paper figures that you can dress and undress? This show on the vertical bar is a three-dimensional version of this play with dress and identity.

BELENDJWA PETER

Muinda

Fri 16. und Sat 17.8. / 70 Min. / English

A mixture of drag performance, monologues, dance, physical theatre and raw, flashy musical theatre songs accompanied by a live band. This virtuoso solo musical offers an insight into the life of a neurodiverse, non-binary, Black person and their journey through homelessness.

AEROPHILIA

Die Luftpirat*innen

Sat 17. und Sun 18.8. / 25 Min.

Two hungry pirates on a treasure hunt. Set sail for a witty adventure – featuring apples, knives, insidious plans, whirling aerial artistry and lots of fun.

 

ERNESTYNA ORLOWSKA

Make your Body your Machine

Sat 17. und Sun 18.8. / 20 Min.

In this playful performance, images from the world of fitness and the food delivery sector are juxtaposed. This humorous choreography invites us to reflect on commercialisation, precarious working conditions and the expectations of women*.

 

KITOKO

Konzert

So 18.8. / 60 Min.

A singer who stands for strength, selflove, beauty and creativity. And that’s exactly what she wants to pass on with her songs: love yourself, because you are good just the way you are. Her powerful music moves between pop, soul, R’n’B and rap.

 

LADJI KONE

®mark

Mon 19., Thu 22. und Tue 27.8. / 25 Min.

With his passion for breakdancing and theatre, Ladji Kone invites us to confront our responsibilities as consumers in this hilarious dance performance. Kone questions our need for labels and our egos; and shows how our urge to «own» at all costs frustrates and isolates us.

 

ZIRKUSMELANGE

Faultier

Tue 20., Wed 21. und Thu 22.8. / 30 Min.

It’s not easy to survive in the rainforest, but if anyone can, it’s these sloths. They are masters of meditation, energy saving and aerial acrobatics. The slowest circus show you have ever seen.

 

ALEKSANDRA STOLIAROVA

Ding Dong / This must be the place

Di 20., Mi 21. und Fr 23.8. / 20 Min.

When can we say «we have arrived»? This solo dance piece, accompanied by music by Paul Taro Schmidt, reflects on the process of leaving, searching and placing oneself in a new space. It tells about the difficulty of finding a home.

 

TEKI TEKUA

Later

Thu 22.8. & Sun 25.8. / 35 Min.

«Later» is often an excuse. It makes us postpone tasks and drift through the current chaos of the world without rebelling against our grievances. Teki Tekua combines contemporary dance styles and elements from physical theatre to create a humorous dance performance.

 

THE NOZEZ

Concert

Thu 22.8. / 60 Min.

Great dance music that makes it impossible to sit still. The Nozez is a collective and musical family. In changing formations, they cultivate the fine art of Balkan Roma street chabbis and transform it into their own version of contemporary folk music.

 

THÉÂTRE DE L’EXTRÊME

parade d’intimidation aigredouce (work in progress)

Fri 23.8. / 20 Min.

In this performance, the audience and four performers meet on stage. Théâtre de l’extrême are a polymorphous gang of girls who invite you to dance and are destroying everything in their path without ever touching anything.

 

PARANOIA CITY FEAT. X COLLECTIVE X

Slayeth Love

Fri 23.8. / 80 Min. / Late Night

 

x collective x and accomplices read from their texts. Together they seek out ways to create inclusive and engaged spaces for minoritized artists. By and for trans, queer, Black, Afro-diasporic and BiPoC people, with and without disabilities – and their allies. Hosted by Paranoia City.

 

BALBÀL COMPANY

Ninguna Palabra

Sat 24., Sun 25. und Mon 26.8. / 25 Min.

Contemporary aerial acrobatics and fantastic comedy. From high above, this company tells a series of everyday stories. With poetry and breathtaking elegance, with charm and provocative games that make you dream and laugh.

 

COŞKUN KENAR & TEAM

MISAFIR (Solo-Version)

Sat 24. und Mon 26.8. / 30 Min.

In times of shifting borders, the dancer Kwangsuk «Issue» Park embarks on an odyssey through the gaps of identity. In the solo dance piece «MISAFIR», the familiar becomes strange and the strange becomes familiar.

 

EDWIN RAMIREZ & JANE MUMFORD

Creating new art spaces

Sat 24.8. / 80 Min. / Late Night

Jane Mumford and Edwin Ramirez invite us to an humorous evening of conversation and reflection about how important it is to create one’s own inclusive spaces in order to create impactful art outside the mainstream.

 

MBENE MWAMBENE & MRS NOBODY

The Taxi Driver Night

Mon 26.8. / 45 Min. / Englisch

A series of poetry readings, voice rhythm, songs and storytelling. The participatory and improvised performance touches topics of classism, slavery, colonialism, love and religion, emphasizing the healing and emancipation of Black bodies.

 

MATILDA FATUR

Where is the beat?

Tue 27. und Wed 28.8. / 40 Min. / English

«Where is the beat?» is a tragicomic play told through puppetry, music and humour. Based on the story of a person who wakes up one day and realises that their body no longer reacts as expected, the play tells of the effects of modern society on the individual.

 

KINDERZIRKUS ROBINSON

So ein Zirkus

Wed 28.8. / 60 Min.

Can I join in too? It’s not always easy to be a part of something. We often hear that we are too small or that we can’t do it. But circus only works if everyone joins in and works together.

 

JOSHUA MONTEN

Linearity

Wed 28. und Thu  29.8. / 20 Min.

«Linearity» explores the creation of straight lines in an uneven world. Two construction workers dance in sync and lay lines, using bold manoeuvres which open up new perspectives.

 

ROSALIE WANKA & KASSANDRA WEDEL

Visual Vibrations

Do 29. und Fr 30.8. / 20 Min.

A signed poem that refers to recurring socio-political themes. A performance with elements of hip hop and german sign language poetry, accompanied by beats from the group Uncertain Proportions.

 

COMPAÑIA A TOPE

Rehearsal of a Catastrophe

Fri 30., Sat 31.8. und Sun 1.9. / 45 Min.

High-calibre partner acrobatics. Inspired by the image of a collapsing building, these two acrobats whisk us away into a multi-faceted visual world. Political circus at its best!

 

MILKY DIAMOND

Spectacular Drag Shows

Fr 30.8. / 80 Min. / Late Night

Milky Diamond and her team have been organising workshops for aspiring drag queens for several years. In this show, Milky invites various alumni to perform.

 

TEATRO LATA

Stereo-Typen – from zero to hero

Sa 31.8. und So 1.9. / 35 Min.

When Rico and Robi turn up, the other children are fascinated by the two outsiders and their hit songs. But then they have a fall out... An empowering story about hurt feelings and friendship.

 

PIPPO IN SPACE

We'll meet there then.

Sat 31.8. / 60 Min.

Pippo in Space is back – this time with nothing. A sketchy, intuitive, planned yet unplanned fashion performance. Experimental, musical, collective. But no stress, please. Who wants to live forever. Come together.

 

YUVVIKI DIOH & GÄSTE

GAME ON

Sat 31.8. / 80 Min. / Late Night

Diversity is becoming an increasingly relevant concept in many areas, but especially in the arts and culture sector. But what does it actually mean? And what does it look like in practice? Dr. phil. Yuvviki Dioh, together with her guests and the audience, addresses those questions in an interactive and humorous game show.

 

MERET FEIGENWINTER & LEONIE LERCH

We met in a summer.

Sun 1.9. / 20 Min.

Scene: A date in a late summer light. You were already there. Your legs dangling from the table tennis table. You were very beautiful. ILA, the Institute for Lesbian Affairs, presents a performance on queer coming of age in a mix of fiction and biography.

 

I NEVER TOOK MY RITALIN

Concert

So 1.9. / 60 Min.

A crazy, hyperactive, theatrical and musical journey. Momo Kunz and Victor Hege build complex musical arrangements and beautiful melodies, which they destroy with primitive beats and absurd lyrics.

 

CARTE BLANCHE

The street artists working on site present their shows at the Zentral. Each day, a different group.

Artistic direction and cast

Kuratiertvon Josef Mohamed und Laura Ritzenfeld
FotosOlekanone & NOVA (Olekanone & NOVA), Melanie Zanin (Muinda), Margot Roth (Make your body your machine), KITOKO (KITOKO), Ladji Kone (Remark), Pablo Gomez Samela & Fantasy Dinasty (The Nozez), Konstantin Demeter (Where is the beat?), Maria Mateo (Ninguna Palabra), Paola Evelina (Visual Vibrations), Jonathan Labusch (Spectacular Drag Shows), Victor Hege (I never took my ritalin)

Zentral Stages

Site map

An inclusive event

accessible with wheelchair with sign language

OPEN-AIR PERFORMANCE

In case of very bad weather, the central program will have to be canceled.

Accessibility

The main stages are wheelchair accessible. Some performances and concerts are translated into sign language (Swiss-German Sign Language, DSGS). See the program notes for details.

Thanks

The central performances at the Zürcher Theater Spektakel are supported by the Ernst Göhner Foundation.

Dates

shows from today
  • Th 15.08. 18:30
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Th 15.08. 19:30
    – Nina Evelyn Pfüller & Rosine Ponti: Unheard Frequencies     Admission free 
  • Th 15.08. 20:30
    – Nina Evelyn Pfüller & Rosine Ponti: Unheard Frequencies     Admission free 
  • Th 15.08. 21:15
    – Aerophilia: Love&Rage     Admission free 
  • Th 15.08. 22:00
    – Olekanone & Nova: Konzert     Admission free 
  • Fr 16.08. 18:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Fr 16.08. 19:00
    – Aerophilia: Airy Superhero     Admission free 
  • Fr 16.08. 19:30
    – Nina Evelyn Pfüller & Rosine Ponti: Unheard Frequencies     Admission free 
  • Fr 16.08. 20:15
    – Aerophilia: Fine feathers make fine birds     Admission free 
  • Fr 16.08. 20:45
    – Nina Evelyn Pfüller & Rosine Ponti: Unheard Frequencies     Admission free 
  • Fr 16.08. 22:00
    – Belendjwa Peter: Muinda     Admission free 
  • Sa 17.08. 17:00
    – Aerophilia: Luftpirat*innen     Admission free 
  • Sa 17.08. 18:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Sa 17.08. 19:00
    – Aerophilia: Love&Rage     Admission free 
  • Sa 17.08. 20:30
    – Ernestyna Orlowska: Make your Body your Machine     Admission free 
  • Sa 17.08. 22:00
    – Belendjwa Peter: Muinda     Admission free 
  • Su 18.08. 17:00
    – Aerophilia: Luftpirat*innen     Admission free 
  • Su 18.08. 18:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Su 18.08. 20:15
    – Aerophilia: Love&Rage     Admission free 
  • Su 18.08. 21:00
    – Ernestyna Orlowska: Make your Body your Machine     Admission free 
  • Su 18.08. 22:00
    – Kitoko     Admission free 
  • Mo 19.08. 18:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Mo 19.08. 19:00
    – Aerophilia: Airy Superhero     Admission free 
  • Mo 19.08. 19:45
    – Aerophilia: Fine feathers make fine birds     Admission free 
  • Mo 19.08. 20:45
    – Ladji Kone: ®mark     Admission free 
  • Tu 20.08. 18:00
    – Zirkusmelange: Faultier     Admission free 
  • Tu 20.08. 19:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Tu 20.08. 20:00
    – Aleksandra Stoliarova: Ding Dong / This must be the place     Admission free 
  • Tu 20.08. 21:15
    – Zirkusmelange: Faultier     Admission free 
  • We 21.08. 18:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • We 21.08. 19:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • We 21.08. 20:00
    – Aleksandra Stoliarova: Ding Dong / This must be the place     Admission free 
  • We 21.08. 21:15
    – Zirkusmelange: Faultier     Admission free 
  • Th 22.08. 18:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Th 22.08. 19:15
    – Zirkusmelange: Faultier     Admission free 
  • Th 22.08. 20:00
    – Teki Tekua: Später     Admission free 
  • Th 22.08. 21:00
    – Ladji Kone: ®mark     Admission free 
  • Th 22.08. 22:00
    – The Nozez     Admission free 
  • Fr 23.08. 17:45
    – Théâtre de l’Extrême: parade d’intimidation aigredouce (work in progress)     Admission free 
  • Fr 23.08. 18:45
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Fr 23.08. 19:30
    – Aleksandra Stoliarova: Ding Dong / This must be the place     Admission free 
  • Fr 23.08. 20:15
    – Théâtre de l’Extrême: parade d’intimidation aigredouce (work in progress)     Admission free 
  • Fr 23.08. 22:00
    – Paranoia City feat. X Collective X: Slayeth Love     Admission free 
  • Sa 24.08. 16:00
    – Balbàl Company: Ninguna Palabra     Admission free 
  • Sa 24.08. 17:45
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Sa 24.08. 20:45
    – Coşkun Kenar & Team: Misafir (Solo-Version)     Admission free 
  • Sa 24.08. 21:45
    – Edwin Ramirez & Jane Mumford: Neue Kunsträume schaffen     Admission free 
  • Su 25.08. 16:00
    – Balbàl Company: Ninguna Palabra     Admission free 
  • Su 25.08. 17:45
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Su 25.08. 18:45
    – Teki Tekua: Später     Admission free 
  • Su 25.08. 20:30
    – Balbàl Company: Ninguna Palabra     Admission free 
  • Mo 26.08. 17:45
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Mo 26.08. 18:00
    – Balbàl Company: Ninguna Palabra     Admission free 
  • Mo 26.08. 19:45
    – Coşkun Kenar & Team: Misafir (Solo-Version)     Admission free 
  • Mo 26.08. 20:30
    – Mbene Mwambene & Mrs Nobody: The Taxi Driver Night     Admission free 
  • Tu 27.08. 18:00
    – Ladji Kone: ®mark     Admission free 
  • Tu 27.08. 19:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Tu 27.08. 20:00
    – Ladji Kone: ®mark     Admission free 
  • Tu 27.08. 21:00
    – Matilda Fatur: Where is the beat?     Admission free 
  • We 28.08. 16:00
    – Kinderzirkus Robinson: So ein Zirkus     Admission free 
  • We 28.08. 18:00
    – Joshua Monten: Linearity     Admission free 
  • We 28.08. 18:45
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • We 28.08. 19:30
    – Joshua Monten: Linearity     Admission free 
  • We 28.08. 20:15
    – Matilda Fatur: Where is the beat?     Admission free 
  • Th 29.08. 18:15
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Th 29.08. 19:00
    – Rosalie Wanka & Kassandra Wedel: Visual Vibrations     Admission free 
  • Th 29.08. 19:45
    – Joshua Monten: Linearity     Admission free 
  • Th 29.08. 20:30
    – Rosalie Wanka & Kassandra Wedel: Visual Vibrations     Admission free 
  • Th 29.08. 21:15
    – Joshua Monten: Linearity     Admission free 
  • Fr 30.08. 18:00
    – Rosalie Wanka & Kassandra Wedel: Visual Vibrations     Admission free 
  • Fr 30.08. 18:45
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Fr 30.08. 19:30
    – Rosalie Wanka & Kassandra Wedel: Visual Vibrations     Admission free 
  • Fr 30.08. 21:00
    – Compañia A Tope: Rehearsal of a Catastrophe     Admission free 
  • Fr 30.08. 22:00
    – Milky Diamond: Spectacular Drag Shows     Admission free 
  • Sa 31.08. 17:00
    – Teatro Lata: Stereo-Typen – from zero to hero     Admission free 
  • Sa 31.08. 18:30
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Sa 31.08. 19:45
    – Pippo in Space: Wir treffen uns dann dort     Admission free 
  • Sa 31.08. 21:00
    – Compañia A Tope: Rehearsal of a Catastrophe     Admission free 
  • Sa 31.08. 22:00
    – Yuvviki Dioh & Gäste: Game On     Admission free 
  • Su 01.09. 16:00
    – Carte Blanche     Admission free 
  • Su 01.09. 17:00
    – Teatro Lata: Stereo-Typen – from zero to hero     Admission free 
  • Su 01.09. 18:45
    – Meret Feigenwinter & Leonie Lerch: Wir trafen uns in einem Sommer     Admission free 
  • Su 01.09. 19:30
    – Compañia A Tope: Rehearsal of a Catastrophe     Admission free 
  • Su 01.09. 20:45
    – I Never Took My Ritalin     Admission free 

Schedule