Swiss Theatre Awards ceremony moves to French-speaking Switzerland for third edition
Bern, 29.03.2016 - The third Swiss Theatre Awards presentation ceremony takes place for the first time in French-speaking Switzerland, at the opening of the 3rd Swiss Theatre Encounter in the Théâtre de Carouge-Atelier de Genève on 26 May. This year’s awards go to the director and head of the Schauspielhaus Zurich, Barbara Frey, the Genevan actor Jean-Quentin Châtelain, the independent company 400asa, Junges Theater Graubünden, and Germain Meyer, the theatre mediator from Jura. The winner of the Swiss Grand Award for Theatre / Hans Reinhart Ring 2016 will be announced at the award presentation in Geneva by Federal Councillor Alain Berset.
Five Swiss Theatre Awards 2016
Five Swiss Theatre Awards go to individuals and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution to the dramatic arts in Switzerland. They also honour artistic achievements in acting and directing. The Outstanding Male and Female Actor category is incorporated into the Theatre Awards for the first time. The aim is to further concentrate the awards but also to recognise a spectrum of artistic achievements in theatre, such as acting, directing, stage design etc., within this category. The awards carry prize money of CHF 30,000 for individuals and CHF 50,000 for institutions.
Barbara Frey was born in Basel. She was a percussionist in various Swiss bands before joining the Theater Basel as assistant director under Frank Baumbauer in 1988. In 1992 she began staging productions, first in the independent scene and soon also in the leading theatres of the German-speaking world. Since 2009, in addition to her directing commitments, she has been the first woman to head the Schauspielhaus Zurich, the largest theatre in German-speaking Switzerland.
Jean-Quentin Châtelain, who was born in Geneva, is an acting phenomenon. He has played on the most prestigious stages in the French-speaking world, in both classics and modern stagings, and has also appeared in some 20 feature films. His personality and authenticity, combined with his voice and ability to enter an almost trance-like state, draw audiences into his narratives.
Germain Meyer obtained a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Paris under Roland Barthes with a thesis on Antonin Artaud and the theatre. He went on to work in a rural region of Mexico, developing his own method of theatre mediation for such environments. Back in Switzerland he campaigned for a theatre policy in Jura, initiated the country’s only school certificate course in theatre in Porrentruy, staged productions with the L’Estrade amateur theatre in Moutier, among others, and remains a multi-faceted driving force of the theatre in a peripheral region.
Each of these three individuals receives prize money of CHF 30,000.
400asa: Founded in 1998 by Samuel Schwarz from Bern and others, the company is known for its political combativeness. One of the most innovative independent companies in Switzerland, it explores contemporary storytelling and produces not just for the stage but also in outdoor spaces and film media. It is currently working on “Der Polder”, a fusion of the game, film and theatre worlds in which the audience is an active participant.
Junges Theater Graubünden: Founded in 2011 by theatre educator Roman Weishaupt, the Teater Giuven Grischun/Junges Theater Graubünden/Giovane Teatro Grigioni (TGG/JTG/GTG) is already a driving force in the theatre scene of its native region. It runs workshops followed by performances that open up access to contemporary theatre for young people in the canton of Graubünden.
The two institutions each receive prize money of CHF 50,000.
3rd Swiss Theatre Encounter in Geneva
The third Theatre Encounter takes place for the first time in French-speaking Switzerland. Running from 27 to 29 May at four theatres in Geneva and complementing the Swiss Theatre Awards, it presents an overview of current theatre in Switzerland. With seven outstanding stage productions and a fringe programme, the Theatre Encounter is a meeting place for the theatrical world, experts and the public. The locations are the Théâtre de Carouge-Atelier de Genève, Comédie de Genève, Théâtre Forum Meyrin and Poche/GVE. For further information, see: /www.schweizertheatertreffen.ch/en/
Further information:
- More detailed information on the winners of the Swiss Theatre Awards: http://www.theaterpreise.ch/en/media/
- Swiss Cabaret and Variety Award presentation ceremony, 14 April 2016
Presented since 1993 by the Swiss association of artists, theatres and organisers (KTV ATP), the Swiss Cabaret and Variety Award was incorporated into the Swiss Theatre Awards last year and is now presented by the Federal Office of Culture. It recognises the overall work of an individual or group. Like the Theatre Awards, it carries prize money of CHF 30,000 for individuals and CHF 50,000 for groups. The winner will be announced, and the award presented, at the opening of the Schweizer Künstlerbörse artists’ fair on 14 April 2016 in Thun in the presence of Federal Councillor Alain Berset. For further information on the nominees, see http://www.theaterpreise.ch/en/ and www.ktvatp.ch
Address for enquiries
On the Confederation’s culture awards: Danielle Nanchen, Head of Cultural Creativity Section, Federal Office of Culture, +41 (0)58 464 98 23, danielle.nanchen@bak.admin.ch
On the Swiss Theatre Awards: Claudia Rosiny, Dance and Theatre Promotion, Cultural Creativity Section, Federal Office of Culture, +41 (0)58 465 39 19, claudia.rosiny@bak.admin.ch
Media services
- Organisation of interviews with the award winners and accreditation for the Swiss Theatre Awards presentation ceremony in Geneva. Paola Gilardi, media@theaterpreise.ch, tel. +41 (0)79 746 41 10
- Accreditation for the Swiss Cabaret and Variety Award presentation ceremony in Thun: Brigitte Kasslatter, brigitte.kasslatter@ktvatp.ch, tel. +41 (0)32 323 50 85
Publisher
Federal Office of Cultural Affairs
http://www.bak.admin.ch
