Museums, galleries, clubs, the city of Basel enjoys an abundant cultural life. Theater and dance are not to be outdone, but the theatrical and choreographic production of the Rhineland city has its specificities linked to the particularities of the city.
What is the particularity of the theatrical and choreographic production of the Rhineland city? How does its position as a geographic crossroads, its diversity of culture and languages translate on stage? “I would say that it is a very exquisite garden, but which pushes a little in the shade, especially in the shadow of the scene of Fine Arts, here in Basel. It is true that when we think of Basel and culture, we think of museums. We are always a little hidden behind this very radiant scene internationally”, replies the playwright and co-director of Theater Basel Anja Dirks in the show Vertigo.
“An exquisite garden” because the city welcomes very sharp, dynamic, interesting and well -established institutions. A living scene and many exchanges characterize the arts of the Basel scene. “The city of Basel facilitates this too because it is not so great, because we know each other. But it is still very steeped in internationality, the back and forth of people thanks to the fine arts and also, of course, to the proximity of the borders”, underlines Anja Dirks.
>> Listen, the interview with Anja Dirks, co-director of Theater Basel, in Vertigo:
A permanent troop for the Theater Basel
Basel has more than a dozen theatrical institutions. A significant number for a city of this size, which allows a wide variety of styles and approaches to the arts of the scene. The proximity of Germany and France influences the organization of Basel theaters, like Theater Basel (theater, ballet and opera) which has, like the Comédie-Française or the Paris Opera, a permanent troupe.
A huge luxury according to Anja Dirks: “The Theater Basel [le théâtre municipal de la ville de Bâle, ndlr] employs 420 employees. Not only permanently a troop of actors, dancers, singers, etc., but also carpenters, painters … We have workshops and all an infrastructure to produce tailor -made projects for Basel “.
But if this organization is a luxury, it also has its drawbacks since the parts of Theater Basel are tailor -made for Basel. It is therefore up to the public to move to come and see them: “If a piece works well in Basel, at one point everyone saw it (…) and therefore that, it breaks the heart a little because [nous sommes] Very poorly equipped to move. If we are invited, what happens is very complex to bring elsewhere the productions that are made for all the infrastructure that we have in Basel. It’s very complicated and suddenly very expensive, “says Anja Dirks.
Interview by Anne Laure Gannac
Adaptation web: ld
The RTS cultural writing settled in Basel from April 28 to May 4 to describe the preparations for Eurovision and bring the cultural offer of the Rhineland city to life. Discover Our special bis Basel file.
