Swiss theatre

"Swiss Theater" is a milestone in Swiss theater history and can also be read as a contribution to the history of mentalities and ideas during the critical 1930s and 1940s. Through individual analyses, it illustrates how the themes of the time were reflected and processed in drama, how the need for preserving traditions, the invocation of "unity," and the formation of a Swiss identity composed of history and wishful thinking took shape on stage. The texts and their analyses are embedded in the production and reception dynamics that determined success and failure, resonance and rejection. Special attention is given to the question of what connections were maintained with Nazi Germany and how the dramatic productions of emigrants were received in Switzerland. A selected group of representative authors and the most important dramatic genres up to the beginning of the dramatic works of Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt are examined. Related fields such as musical theater, film, cabaret, and radio plays are also discussed. This unique overview in Swiss theater history consciously includes not only what was actually staged but also considers contributions from authors in program booklets, private letters, and the press. Registers provide access to the processed materials, offer information about typical stage settings, and complete this essential reference work.