Zentral

The Zentral stages on the Landiwiese are back! Finally, we can again present acrobatics, spoken word, clowning, dance, concerts and more from Switzerland and beyond at the usual locations. Apart from the following line-up, you can also enjoy the various performances by street artists on the paved spots.

Additionally, we will continue our pop-up format, DeZentral: from Tuesdays to Thursdays, one of the companies will perform in a Zurich district.

Circus Katoen

Grasshoppers

Belgium / Thu 18 to Sat 20 August

Nature needs to endure a lot in our world. In «Grasshoppers», a patch of lawn plays the lead and represents nature’s vulnerability. Circus Katoen playfully poses the question: what can we do to improve our relationship with the environment? 

Rhizome

Bleu Tenace

France / Thu 18 to Sat 20 August

In this daring solo at six metres above the ground, Fanny Austry dances the expressive and jerky «krump» – a powerful dance style from the streets of Los Angeles. 

Les Toons

Mime Beatbox Comedy Show

Switzerland / Fri 19 to Sun 21 August

With pantomime, slapstick and musical virtuosity, the comedy duo Les Toons creates objects out of nothing, makes animals talk and re-invents pop culture altogether. The artistic twosome focuses on our very existence. Full of mischief, they tickle our fancy and invite us to see the world through the wondering eyes of a child. 

Late Night

Ausgesprochen queer

Switzerland / Sat 20 August

This is an outspoken celebration of queerness. The open late night show will spin our heads around and cloud – or clear up – our opinions. Organised by Lois Stettler and Rumo Wehrli and compèred by Nele Solf, «Ausgesprochen queer» features four queer poets: FupaMagic, Romeo Koyote Rosen, Lou Meili, Jonin Herzig.

Lily Claire

Concert

Switzerland / Sun 21 August

At times melancholic, at times tempestuous, yet always full of warmth – the songs by Lily Claire, interpreted in French, are exceptionally touching. Together with Sven Stoltenberg, the Zurich singer presents her latest EP recently recorded in Brittany. 

Figurentheater Winterthur

Papier ist Papier ist Papier

Switzerland / Sun 21 August

Compagnie Wurst

C’est Bien Ici?

Belgium / Sun 21 and Mon 22 August (additionally, Tue 23 to Thu 25 August DeZentral in the city!)

Electric scooters, briefcases and coffee-to-go have become an indelible part of European cityscapes. Mikail Karahan and Elias Oechsner of Compagnie Wurst employ those elements in their piece «C’est Bien Ici?» – to create a truly spectacular circus show. 

Taqbir

Konzert

Marocco / Mon 22 August

If you believe that music can change the world, you have come to the right place. With fiery songs the Moroccan punk band Taqbir stand up for the freedoms of expression and religion – while still having to remain anonymous. 

Teatro Lata

Toto, Laura & die Stadtmusikant:innen

Switzerland / Tue 23 August and Sun 4 September

Toto is about to give a concert when someone pulls the plug – it’s Laura! Since the death of her grandma, she has been living on the streets. As the animals in «The Bremen Town Musicians», Toto and Laura ask themselves how to survive in this world. A wonderful show about friendship and courage by the Zurich theatre maker Gustavo Nanez. 

Compagnie Kirn

Tricot

France / Tue 23 to Thu 25 August

With spectacular acrobatics and a pinch of humour, Lucas and Th.o Enriquez explore their relationship as brothers. Sometimes close, sometimes distant, sometimes in or out of step – their brotherly connection is unique and their interpretation breathtaking. 

Trio Tête-bêche

3+1

The Netherlands, Spain, Germany / Wed 24 to Fri 26 August

Without a player, the «Diabolo» is just an object. During the acrobatics show by Trio Tête-bêche, this object is brought to life – and becomes the fourth member of the threesome. 

Minitheater Hannibal

Rosa-böse Märchen

Switzerland / Wed 24 and Sat 27 August

This wacky story-telling duo from Zurich stages classic fairytales. Or seems to do so. The stories of the Brothers Grimm and the like, with their princesses, villains, dwarves and frogs, act as a starting point for these two «punks of the fairytale scene» to convey their weird, humorous reflections – for example in «Rosa-böse Märchen». 

colectivo LASTESIS

RESISTENCIA o la reivindicación de un derecho colectivo

Chile / Fri 26 August

During a festival workshop, the feminist collective LASTESIS and 40 local participants develop «RESISTENCIA o la reivindicación de un derecho colectivo». Together they will present the performance on the Zentral Stage. 

Anna Chiedza Spörri & Sophie Chioma Gerber

drzwüsche

Switzerland / Fri 26 to Sun 28 August

This piece by Anna Chiedza Spörri and Sophie Chioma Gerber is a soulful investigation into the various realities that women of colour experience. A powerful homage to all who feel that they are living between two different worlds. 

Johanna Heusser

Dr Churz, dr Schlungg und dr Böös

Switzerland / Sat 27 to Tue 30 August

Swiss wrestling is closely linked with conservative, nationalist and patriarchical values. The piece by choreographer Johanna Heusser approaches this sport with fascination and scepticism. Could Swiss wrestling also become a model for a critical alternative? 

Late Night

Not a roadmovie

Switzerland / Sat 27 August

Freedom, self-realisation and excess are the promises of being young. Yet in the past two years, young people have missed out on their youth. In this late night format, Florian Lampert and guests investigate what happens when the protagonists of a road movie get left behind at a service station. 

Luusbuebe

Switzerland / Sun 28 August

Children’s songs which adults love to listen to as well – this is the vision of Luusbuebe. The band was founded spontaneously in 2016 when the planned gig of a kid’s band at the Openair Wipkingen was cancelled. Their music has its roots in punk and rock with lyrics straight from the heart.

Billie Bird

Konzert

Switzerland / Sun 28 August

Billie Bird sings in French – songs that deal with transfigured nights, with relationships, but not only. The singer-songwriter explores feelings we all know – fears, doubts, sorrows – and touches her listeners in her very own way.

Si le colibri

j’étais, une fois, deux

Switzerland / Mon 29 August (additionally, Wed 31 August DeZentral in the city!)

Aude Cattin and Owen Winship ask the big questions of life in their own unique way. «j’étais, une fois, deux» is a tender and comic circus show full of innovative physical artistry, far from well-trodden paths.  

Company Lindh & Weingartner

EQUALITY!

Switzerland / Tue 30 August to Fri 2 September

Rebecca Weingartner and Benjamin Lindh Medin continue to find ever new, peppy, absurd and humorous ways to demonstrate what equality between two people of the opposite sex could look like. One thing is for sure: each of them is equally unique! 

Attenberger, Calörtscher, Immoos, Lampert, Schmidt

Welt, kennen Sie? – Der Stand der Dinge

Switzerland / Wed 31 August

Finally: a show which delivers a complete inventory and a meticulous list of our environment. In doing so, the performers grapple with the complexity of life and humorously demonstrate how they cope with their own world and existence. 

Mélodie Morin

Mûe

France / Wed 31 August and Thu 1 September

The figure that Mélodie Morin creates in the Cyr wheel is difficult to grasp: above, below, behind, in front – everything seems to be everywhere. Constantly on the move, the acrobat presents a burlesque and poetic show combining circus, dance and puppetry. 

Late Night

Ausgesprochen feministisch

Switzerland / Thu 1 September

Explicitly feminist: Poets, artists and writers perform their texts on an intersectional stage. A place for discussions, anger, vulnerability and optimism hosted by spoken word artist and moderator Jenn Unfug. 

T’es rien sans la Terre

T’es rien sans la Terre

France / Fri 2 to Sun 4 September

«T’es Rien sans la terre» – you are nothing without the earth – is a humorous acrobatic show without a moralistic hint. Yet it offers a good opportunity to have an honest discussion on ecology. 

Zero en Conducta

LA POUBELLE PLUS BELLE o TRASH

Spain / Fri 2 and Sat 3 September (additionally, Thu 1 September DeZentral in the city!)

Little Poubelle dreams of becoming a star. The only problem: she is a rubbish bag. In this tragic comic object theatre by Zero en Conducta, Poubelle meets her fate with humour – and still shines like a star … before being dumped into the rubbish truck. 

Late Night

Poetry of Colour

Switzerland / Sat 3 September

Poetry meets activism: with words of poetic beauty and strong slogans, poets of colour demonstrate that diversity on Swiss stages is not only possible but also necessary. The show is moderated by Kay Wieoimmer and features Edwin Ramirez, Malik Zola, Yasmin und Jovana Nikić. 

Café au Lait

Le Souffle – vom Hauch eines neuen Lebens

Switzerland / Sat 3 September

Provocative, touching, wordless and witty: this describes the current production by Café au Lait, the Zurich Afro dance group for children and young adults. With their latest work, they venture on sensitive topics of our times and speak about migration, hope, racism, integration and love. 

Das Büro mit dem lustigen Namen

Die Kleinste Gabel der Welt

Switzerland / Sun 4 September

Details tba

Duo Rimini

Concert

Switzerland / Sun 4 September

Duo Rimini is an ode to Italian love songs. Sophie Aeberli plays the piano and Maria Rebecca Sautter expresses her love for Italian songs. This is a wonderful combination which, for a moment, has us mistake Lake Zurich for the Mediterranean Sea.