Enthusiasm needs society. Welcome to the Gesellschaft der Freunde des Schauspielhaus Zürich (gfs).
If you have always wanted to discover the exciting world of theatre behind the curtain and get to know the people at the Schauspielhaus, then you have come to the right place.
Become a member now and enjoy the privilege of regularly looking behind the scenes at the Schauspielhaus - during rehearsal visits, workshop discussions or in dialogue with the artists.
Celebrate with us every autumn at the Golden Mask awards ceremony. At this ceremony, the gfs has honoured one person from the Schauspielhaus Zürich for remarkable work on stage and one for outstanding work behind the scenes for over 30 years.
Exchange ideas with other theatre lovers at discussion rounds on current productions and expertly organised theatre trips.
And benefit from a 20% discount on all theatre tickets*.
*valid for all repertoire performances excluding premieres, guest performances and special events
We look forward to seeing you!
History
The Gesellschaft der Freunde des Schauspielhauses (gfs) is an association that has been promoting and supporting the Schauspielhaus Zurich for almost 85 years.
The gfs was founded in 1940, two years after the city took over the Schauspielhaus Zurich from its then owner, Ferdinand Rieser. The wave of emigration among artists during the war brought numerous famous actors and actresses to Zurich. It goes without saying that the influx of actors from Nazi Germany to the Schauspielhaus placed an additional strain on the city's budget. This was the catalyst for the founding of the gfs, which made financial support for theatre professionals its top priority.
To this day, the gfs continues to support the Schauspielhaus Zurich both ideologically and financially. The members of the gfs are ‘closer’ to the action on and behind the stage. They have close ties to the theatre and the artists and support one production each season with the surplus generated by the association.
You can download the brochure for the 75th anniversary of the Gesellschaft der Freunde des Schauspielhauses here.
You can find out more about the history of the Schauspielhaus Zurich here
Membership
To become a friend, send us your contact details to: freunde@schauspielhaus.ch
AS A FRIEND, YOU CAN EXPECT
- Exclusive offers such as behind-the-scenes tours, rehearsal visits, discussions with directors, workshop leaders or artists
- Regular discussion groups on current productions, some with actors as guests
- Participation in theatre and cultural trips in Switzerland and abroad
- Invitation to the Golden Mask awards ceremony, held since 1995, for special achievements on and behind the stage, with a gala and subsequent dinner in the foyer
- Regular newsletters
- 20% discount on all tickets at the regular price of a performance (except premieres and guest performances)
- Access to the theatre canteen at the Schiffbau
- Voucher for a theatre visit when referring a new member to gfs.
MEMBERSHIP FEES*
- Junior (up to 25 years of age): CHF 50
- Individual membership: CHF 230
- Couple membership: CHF 350
- Individual patron: CHF 600
- Couple patron: CHF 900
- Corporate members: CHF 2,000
*All prices in CHF/year
Events
Past events
PAST EVENTS
- Theatre trip to Basel to see Berthold Brecht's The Threepenny Opera on 22 June 2025
- ‘Einblicke/Ausblicke’ on 12 June 2025 at 6 p.m., theatre discussion led by Dr Annette Kreis-Schinck, gfs board member. Guest: ensemble member Alicia Aumüller
- MESCHUGGE WIE IMMER – Farewell to Gottfried Breitfuss on 31 May 2025
- 2–5 May 2025: Theatre trip to Berlin under the expert guidance of our Vice-President Barbara Pung
- ‘Einblicke/Ausblicke’ on 8 April 2025 at 6 p.m., theatre discussion led by Dr Annette Kreis-Schinck, gfs board member
- 4 March 2025 Theatre trip to Bern to see the play JAMES BROWN TRUG LOCKENWICKLER by Yasmina Reza
- ‘Einblicke/Ausblicke’ on 20 February 2025 at 6 p.m. at the Pfauen, theatre discussion led by Dr Annette Kreis-Schinck, gfs board member. Guest: ensemble member Sebastian Rudolph
- 21 January 2025 at 6.45 p.m., rehearsal visit to HEARTSHIP at the Schiffbau Box
- 23 January 2025 at 11.45 a.m., rehearsal visit for DIE KLEINE MEERJUNGFRAU at the Pfauen
- New Year's aperitif on 7 January 2025 with Ulrich Khuon and the gfs board at 6 p.m. in the Schiffbau foyer. Followed by a joint performance visit to DIE FRAUEN VON TRACHIS
- Rehearsal visit on 3 December 2025 at 12.30 p.m. to DIE SCHMUTZIGEN HÄNDE (The Dirty Hands) at the Pfauen
- ‘Einblicke/Ausblicke’ (Insights/Outlooks) on 19 November 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Pfauen, theatre discussion led by Dr Annette Kreis-Schinck, gfs board member. Guest: Ensemble member Lukas Vögler
- Rehearsal visit on 16 October 2024 at 6 p.m. for KÖNIG LEAR at the Pfauen Theatre
- ...
Executive committee
PIERRE WIDMER
President
BARBARA PUNG
Vice-President
ANNETTE KREIS-SCHINCK
CHRISTIAN GÄRTNER
ULRICH SEEFELD
PETER HÜTTENMOSER
ex officio Schauspielhaus
Goldene Maske
ON STAGE
1995 Hans Dieter Zeidler, actor
1996 Werner Düggelin, director // Laudation: Josef Estermann
1997 Annemarie Kuster, actress // Laudation: Reinhard Stumm
1998 Jürgen Cziesla // Laudation: Werner Düggelin
1999 Burghart Klaussner, actor // Laudation: Werner Düggelin
2000 Ludwig Boettger, actor // Laudation: Katja Früh
2001 André Jung, actor // Laudation: Christoph Marthaler
2002 Sebastian Rudolph, actor // Laudation: Falk Richter
2003 Jürg Kienberger, actor // Laudation: Ueli Jäggi
2004 Meg Stuart, choreographer / Stefan Pucher, director // Laudation: Nikola Weisse
2005 Meike Droste, actress // Laudation: Andreas Erdmann
2006 Tomas Flachs Nóbrega, actor // Laudation: Lina Beckmann, Cathérine Seifert
2007 Siggi Schwientek, actor // Laudation: Andreas Erdmann
2008 Niklaus Helbling, director // Laudation: Marcus Kiepe
2009 Robert Hunger-Bühler, actor // Laudation: Roland Koberg
2010 Bettina Meyer, set designer // Laudation: Barbara Frey
2011 Markus Scheumann, actor // Laudation: Thomas Jonigk
2012 Friederike Wagner, actress // Laudation: Robert Hunger-Bühler
2013 Michael Neuenschwander, actor // Laudation: Dusan David Parizek
2014 Petra Fischer, Junges Schauspielhaus // Laudation: Philippe Besson
2015 Isabelle Menke, actress // Laudation: Matthias Neukirch
2016 Miriam Mertens, actress // Laudation: Michael Neuenschwander
2017 Claudius Körber, actor // Laudation: Friederike Wagner
2018 Gottfried Breitfuss, actor // Laudation: Ernst Konarek
2019 Lena Schwarz, actress // Laudation: Michael Neuenschwander
2020 Matthias Neukirch, actor // Laudation: Niklaus Peter
2021 Alicia Aumüller, actress // Laudation: Nicolas Stemann
2022 Benjamin Lillie, actor // Laudation: Christopher Rüping
2023 Wiebke Mollenhauer, actress // Laudation: Katinka Deecke
2024 Lucas Vögler, actor // Laudation: Leonie Böhm
BEHIND THE SCENES
1995 Peter Fischer, Technical Director
1996 Peter Peiker, Artistic Director // Laudation: Peter Arens
1997 Angelo Rosenfelder, Stage Manager // Laudation: Gerd Leo Kuck
1998 Marianne Korn, Artistic Office // Laudation: Marcel Müller
1999 Hans Fick, Stage Manager // Laudation: Werner Düggelin
2000 Erich Müller, Head of Make-up // Laudation: André Jung
2001 Ingrid Hug, Dresser, Foyer Manager // Laudation: Ernst Bieri
2002 Rudolf Rath, artistic office extras // Laudation: Peter Arens
2003 Irene Herbst, stage manager // Laudation: André Jung
2004 Edi and Rosmarie Schmid, hosts of the theatre canteen at the Pfauen // Laudation: Jean-Pierre Cornu
2005 Walter Milan, Head of Technical Services // Laudation: Marc Baumann
2006 Barbara Ballini, Executive Assistant // Laudation: Dr Herbert Pfortmüller, Dr Brigitte von der Crone, Marc Baumann
2007 Kurt Spahr, Financial Accountant // Laudation: Barbara Ballini
2008 Hans Keller, theatre painter // Laudation: Dirk Wauschkuhn
2009 Tina Kornfeld, marketing assistant // Laudation: Dirk Wauschkuhn
2010 Martin Caflisch, construction // Laudation: Albert Brägger
2011 Gerlinde Uhlig Vanet, prompter // Laudation: Tom Till
2012 Thomas Unseld, head of the painting studio // Laudation: Bettina Meyer, Dirk Wauschkuhn
2013 Robert Zähringer, head of the foyer/reception // Laudation: Tom Till
2014 Aleksandar Sascha Dinevski, stage manager // Laudation: Ludwig Boettger, Ruedi Schuler
2015 Christoph Finé Renfer // Laudation: Ruedi Häusermann
2016 Maurizio Bello, men's tailor // Laudation: Siggi Schwientek
2017 Christine Rippmann, theatre sculptor // Laudation: Thomas Unseld and Mervyn Millar
2018 Andi A. Müller, video master // Laudation: Dirk Wauschkuhn
2019 Sandra Caviezel, Head of Dressing Service // Laudation: Dirk Wauschkuhn
2020 Marianne Boos, Prop Master // Laudation: René Kümpel
2021 Etienne Porret, Stagehand // Laudation: Dirk Wauschkuhn
2022 Renata Vonarburg, video technician // Laudation: Jens Zimmer
2023 Uschi Stähli, audience services // Laudation: Alexandros Ioannidis and Robert Zähringer
2024 Rolf Schiesser, stage technology // Laudation: Noemi Germann-Truttmann
Statutes
Information about the statutes of the Gesellschaft der Freunde des Schauspielhauses
Contact
To become a friend or receive regular news, send us your contact details at freunde@schauspielhaus.ch.
Gesellschaft der Freunde des Schauspielhaus Zürich
Katrin Hohenacker
Zeltweg 5
8032 Zürich
+41 44 258 72 06
