(WHAT YOU'LL FIND) ON THE WAY TO BECOMING

A SOMATIC RITUAL
by Ta-Nia
translated from American English by Simoné Goldschmidt-Lechner
Commissioned by the Schauspielhaus Zürich
DIRECTED BY: Ta-Nia (Talia Paulette Oliveras & Nia Farrell)

SCHIFFBAU BOX
WORLD PREMIERE: 06.12.2025

Recommended from age 14+
2 hours (no interval)

It's Gabbi's 30th birthday... again. Desperately, Gabbi and her friends try to escape the loop through a night at the club with the help of spectacle and transformation – and you're invited. In this Black and queer communal space, everyone is encouraged to be who they are – or want to be – as long as it happens consciously. Only one thing is certain: no one leaves this space the same way they entered. What begins as a simple birthday party becomes a ritual that ushers in Gabbi's and our collective future.

The New York theatre duo Ta-Nia, consisting of Talia Paulette Oliveras and Nia Farrell, is known for their poetic characters and liberating worlds. In their theatrical rituals, they invite the audience to engage in a (re)imagination of our present world, offering practices that extend beyond the physical and temporal boundaries of the theatre space. Inspired by everyday Afrofuturism, the duo's work is rooted in theatrical and theoretical conversations about Black culture and dreams.

With (WHAT YOU’LL FIND) ON THE WAY TO BECOMING, the duo establishes artistic connections with the Zurich scene and is bringing one of its Afrofuturistic productions to a Swiss stage for the first time.

SURTITLES
Please note: For the best view of the surtitles, we recommend booking seats on the left side of the auditorium.

CONTENT NOTE
This production includes brief depictions of drug use, vomit, panic attacks, and suicide.

SENSORY NOTE
This performance features periods of loud music, bright lighting effects, spray paint and other moments of heightened sensory intensity that some people may find (over)stimulating. We aim to create a comfortable experience for everyone. Fidget toys are available in the foyer (cloakroom area). Please feel free to use anything that helps you feel at ease — taking breaks or stepping into the foyer for a moment is of course always welcome.

THEME
The setting is a birthday celebration, and the ensemble has chosen a theme for the evening: Dreaming of Fabulousness – Legends Edition. You are warmly invited to dress according to the theme! What is Fabulousness? Fabulousness is not just about looking amazing or putting on a spectacular show — it’s also about creating an opportunity to express your most authentic self.