Theaterfestival Basel presents an international, biennial festival program featuring a range of genres and forms: from city projects to renowned dance and theatre productions, performances, nouveau cirque and installations.


The city of Basel and the local region are transformed into a wonderful venue: discover new forms and tales of theatre during the 12-day event throughout the city centre and the surrounding canton, at the Kaserne Basel, at ROXY Birsfelden, at Theater Basel and neuestheater.ch and at junges theater basel.

 

25 years - a success story

 

1991

Founding of the festival "Welt in Basel" under the artistic director Christoph Stratenwerth / Workshops with more than 1000 pupils / Guest performances by Peter Brook, Robert Lepage and others.

 

1993

Highlight of the festival: Handspring Puppet Company (Johannesburg).

 

1996

Artistic director: Renate Klett / World premiere of Christoph Marthaler's "Lina Böglis Reise“ (invited to Berliner Theatertreffen) / Sasha Waltz & Guests (Berlin).

 

1999

Artistic director: Christoph Stratenwerth / Renaming of the festival to "Theaterfestival Basel“.

 

2000

Highlight of the festival: Théâtre du Soleil, Ariane Mnouchkine: "Tambours sur la Digue“.

 

2002

Artistic director: Eric Barth / Fire shows and machine theatre at Kaserne with Groupe F.

 

2004

Artistic director: Susanne Winnacker / internationale directors and companies like Needcompany.

 

2006

Highlight of the festival: Les Ballets C. de la B. "Vsprs“ and Emma Dante.

 

2012

Successful relaunch of the festival under the artistic director Carena Schlewitt with 179 artists from 12 countries, 18 productions, and 49 shows.

 

2014

In its second edition the festival with the artistic director Carena Schlewitt exceed the high expectations. With 170 artists from ten countries, 16 productions and 50 shows the festival continues to excite audiences.

 

2016

With 20 productions, over 100 events and 11 workshops in 13 days, Theaterfestiva Basel 2016 directed by Carena Schlewitt could present a broad spectrum of contemporary performing arts to a big audience.

2018

12 days the 18 productions from 12 countries amazed us, surprised us and made us rejoicing at Theaterfestival Basel 2018, directed by Tobias Brenk. Beside the theatre spaces in Basel-Stadt, Baselland and Solothurn, Theaterfestival Basel took also place in the urban area or visited different schools in Baselland and Solothurn.