Greeting from the Mayor of the City of Zürich
Dear readers
Each year in late summer, the Zürcher Theater Spektakel transforms the Landiwiese into a place where the arts allow us to experience new insights and encounters, where the critique of the familiar and the confrontation with the foreign can happen.
This year’s festival faces us with some of the major questions of our times; questions about the future of Europe, or questions which national anthems are worth standing, sitting or kneeling for. Stories will be told about the water of the African Great Lakes running dry, about everyday life in occupied Palestine, about the love between two men in the Arabic world, about an (un)political mourning ritual in Bangkok, about the future in Buenos Aires. With dancers, performers and circus artists we can discover new approaches to our physicality, new ways of relating – or wonder how humanity would do if we were controlled by artificial intelligence.
These stories and experiences are valuable. We, as a society offer them an artistic space, which implies our willingness to confront ourselves with our own inadequacies, to take on different perspectives and to gain new insights. Especially at a time when a nuclear superpower is trying to impose its own perspective by force, it is important to take a stand. The Zürcher Theater Spektakel offers a great opportunity to meet the world – and to celebrate its diversity.
Once more, I wish all of us an inspiring and lively festival on the Landiwiese.
Corinne Mauch
Greetings from our main partners
Zürcher Kantonalbank
Each summer for the past 40 years, the Zürcher Theater Spektakel has transformed the Landiwiese into a unique cultural oasis. Its fascination stems from a top-class programme, stimulating discourses and idyllic location. Here at the lakeside, the arts present themselves in all their glory – especially now that cultural events can again take place on-site without any restrictions. Above all, the Zürcher Theater Spektakel thrives on surprising encounters and creative contact, which is also important to us.
Together with the Zürcher Theater Spektakel, we are proud to offer various forms of theatre, performance, circus, dance and music to a broad audience each year. Our ZKB Prizes are an encouragement to up-and-coming talents to stage their works, thereby adding to this creative abundance and variety. In this spirit, we wish all members of the audience an intimate and inspiring festival.
Mark Roth; Member of the Committee of the Board
Swiss Re
«You cannot imagine big shifts until they happen.» This quote by Nelson Mandela has proven to be true in today’s world and also gives hope for a change for the better. The unexpected also affects the creation of a festival which relies greatly on artistic contributions from around the world. We are convinced that a vibrant cultural life can open new perspectives and encourage dialogue. In times like these, an international festival can make an important contribution to all.
The Zürcher Theater Spektakel transforms the Landiwiese into a special place in late summer. With its varied offer to discover and experience art, the festival has enthused audiences time and again. It gives us the opportunity to encounter the unknown with curiosity and openness. It exemplifies the development of our city, to which it has contributed for more than 40 years in exceptional ways. We take pride in having supported the Theater Spektakel for 30 years and in contributing to inspiring the audiences with food for thought.
Swiss Re wishes you a wonderful festival.
Guido Fürer; Swiss Re Country President Switzerland
Kanton Zürich
We live in times which are challenging and can often seem overwhelming. A European democracy has fallen victim to an offensive war in the year 2022. What does that mean for a theatre festival? Is a boisterous, happy event adequate or appropriate in times like this? Yes, it is.
The promotion of culture offers opportunity for reflection, a strengthening sense of community, a yielding of ourselves to our emotions and sheds light into the darkness. Culture is indispensable, even more so during difficult times.
The images of Ukrainian opera singers who perform in the streets of Odessa, the reports of theatre performances taking place despite war and conflict, are all very touching. They demonstrate an immense power and express the conviction that we are stronger than arms, dictators and warmongers. We will not fall silent.
That is why the Theater Spektakel is suited to these difficult times. It is a place where present-day questions are explored on stage. It also promotes a sense of community – and a common message: our world is the world of humanity, togetherness, exchange, curiosity and peace. This is the world we defend.
Jacqueline Fehr; Government Council
Greetings from our Media Partner
Tages Anzeiger
We are happy to see that this summer the exceptional situation of the previous two years has normalised. Cultural events and an exchange of ideas can be experienced again live.
We are also very pleased for all artists affected by the crisis, who can now travel again, present their creative projects and express their art to an audience. It is time again to stimulate mind and soul with new experiences and exciting ideas – especially in a world urging us to reflect and empathise.
This year, the Theater Spektakel is again noticeably international, with many innovative projects presented at the colourful Landiwiese. In addition to the daily reading of «Tages-Anzeiger», we wish the artists and our valued audience, enjoyment, food for thought and a wonderful late summer 2022.
Dr. Pietro Supino; Publisher of «Tages-Anzeiger» and Chairman of TX Group AG