Theatre and dance
The multi-award-winning Theater Basel is Switzerland's largest theatre offering drama, opera and ballet and is well worth a visit. The independent theatre scene also has a lot to offer. Basel has around 18 theatres and a number of off-spaces offering everything from productions in dialect to performance art.
Theater Basel
Basel is home to the largest multi-purpose theatre in Switzerland: At Theater Basel, operas, ballets and plays are performed in two venues and on three stages. A private group of theatre-loving women donated an eight-figure sum of Swiss francs for the construction of a new playhouse. In 2023, Theater Basel was the only Swiss theatre to be invited to take part in the Berliner Theatertreffen.
Free dance and theatre scene
Basel offers groups on the free dance and theatre scene an attractive and much-acclaimed production location. New contemporary theatre, dance and performance art productions by groups from the region are regularly shown on both stages at the Kaserne. The programme for Theater ROXY in the neighbouring municipality of Birsfelden also injects momentum into the theatre scene.
Theatre performances for the whole family
Younger and older children take part in performances at Basler Kindertheater and Junges Theater Basel. For a family trip to the theater, there are also the following theatres with their own productions:
- Vorstadttheater
- Basler Marionetten-Theater
- Figurentheater Felucca
- Figurentheater Doris Weiller
- Theater Arlecchino
Private theatres and cabaret theatres
- Reactor im Bau 3
- Theater Fauteuil & Tabourettli,
- Helmut Förnbacher Theater Company
- Häbse-Theater
- Kammertheater Riehen
- Theatergarage
The cast members at Baseldytschi Bihni are committed to preserving dialect. Theater Süd is a place of encounter and movement in the Gundeli district.
Guest performances and festivals
The Musical Theater Basel has an ideal stage for showing major touring theatre and dance productions. In addition, Treibstoff Theatertage, Basel Theatre Festival, Culturescapes, Wildwuchs and Figuren Theater Festival Basel are all festivals that are held once every two years and offer a window to showcase productions on the international dance and theatre scene along different themes.
The Basel Region Dance Festival takes place every year in May. Last but not least, private theatres and cabarets such as the Theater im Teufelhof, H95 Raum für Kultur or Station Circus consistently present programmes by renowned guest artists.