Theaterfestival Basel brings international shows of dance, theatre, performance and music to the city of Basel in Switzerland. 

Theaterfestival Basel

If contemporary theatre and performance art is your jam, this is the ideal festival for you. With 11 main productions across seven different venues, as well as a host of supporting short plays, arts workshops and events, there's plenty to entertain a theatre lover.

Many of the pieces are dance, mime or performance-based, and require no language to be understood. Others are in a variety of languages, and almost all have English surtitles. Each performance clearly states the language and surtitles on its event page.

From musicals about Argentinian sex workers to an exploration of climate change through the medium of the Vivaldi piece The Four Seasons, the programme is diverse and stimulating.

Photo credit: Theaterfestival Basel

Festival Lab: Xchange

Festival Lab: Xchange is a series of workshops where you can watch a performer as they explain and demonstrate their art and then take part in trying to implement the lessons learned. Workshops in English include:

Trà Nguyễn - Verbatim Bodies

In her workshop "Verbatim Bodies", Vietnamese artist Trà Nguyễn explores the slowness of movement together with the audience and the hypothesis that holding the space together is what creates it in the first place.

Avantika Bahl – N.N.

Based on her own experiences, the dancer Avantika Bahl from Mumbai develops inclusive performances that incorporate diverse voices. For the Festival LAB, she gives an exclusive insight into her work-in-process.

Wanjiku Mwawuganga - Where Did You See My Fear?

The Kenyan director and performer Wanjiku Mwawuganga deals with vulnerability and the shifting of boundaries. At Festival LAB, you will get an insight into her performance "Where Did You See My Fear?", which is currently being created.

Sharon Mercado Nogales - recuerdos del presente

"recuerdos del presente", the solo by Berlin-based dancer/choreographer Sharon Mercado Nogales, who comes from the Bolivian Andes, revolves around the sound and rhythm of Cumbia Andina - a musical form between joy and melancholy. This workshop is in English and Spanish.

Photo credit: Theaterfestival Basel / Christophe Raynaud de Lage

Other events

Around all of this are countless other events. Super Saturday, held on August 31 from 6pm, there are a range of free performances and concerts taking place until 10.30pm, when the Super Saturday Party takes over on the Kasernenareal with DJs and entertainers until 4am.

The dance spectacular Skatepark ensures the Kasernenhof is transformed into a skater's paradise for the duration of the festival. When the show isn't on, it's free for all to come and try to land some tricks, with a prize for the best trick of the festival.

Attending Theaterfestival Basel

The seven venues are all in the city centre, so public transport is recommended to get into and around Basel. 

Some events are free, but many require advance booking. You can buy tickets on the Theaterfestival Basel website. In order to increase access to the theatre, tickets have three different price bands, but they don't change what you get. Pay what you can afford is the idea, so people who can pay more do so, subsidising those who can only pay the lower price.

Thumb photo credit: Theaterfestival Basel / Franky Verdickt