The talk of the town
WITH: Mike Müller & guests
PFAUEN
Mike Müller, the gatekeeper, has proven himself. And so, in this season as well, he is holding people up who pass by his lodge of a very different kind. Some are passing through the gate (Pforte) because they want to head home after a long day’s work. Others are arriving for their shift and don’t want to be delayed, while some just want to take a look around the building and have a few questions. Mike Müller certainly has a few questions of his own for those passing by. Officially, it’s called 'Talk.' At the gate, they just call it 'Chit-chat.' It can be deeply serious or seriously lighthearted. And some things simply can’t be talked about—you have to sing about them. But see and hear for yourself!
PFORTE begins at 8 p.m. and lasts no longer than a bad B-movie. There is no intermission, but cool drinks are available at reasonable prices afterwards.
Nr. 4
On October 30, as always, people who don’t know each other yet stop by the doorman’s lodge and get to know one another over a bit of doorman’s gossip. There’s Lara Stoll, who has known the doorman for a long time and brings him her new book. But he’s already read it ages ago, and the two of them read from it together. Naturally, this makes the doorman proud. Then there’s Olivia El Sayed, whose storytelling the doorman loves and whose Zurich-style anecdotes absolutely delight him. After all, she originally comes from Winterthur and writes a great deal about her Egyptian father in her books. But to the doorman, Winterthur and Egypt are very much Zurich, too. The same goes for actor Mouataz Alshaltouh, who came to Germany from Syria twelve years ago and trained at drama school in Berlin. And now he’s sharing the stage at the Schauspielhaus with the doorman. There’s also a surprise guest who belongs to the Pfauen theatre just as much as the doorman himself. The whole affair lasts around 70 minutes and ends with cool drinks in the foyer.
WITH: Lara Stoll, Olivia El Sayed, Mouataz Alshaltouh
Nr. 3
Once again on May 29, 2026, the paths of three Zurich locals who might otherwise rush past each other at Bellevue or the local lido cross at the Pfauen. Prop master Rock Battaglia really just wants to start his shift, but ends up collegially answering a few of the doorman's questions about the circus where he grew up. Presenter, performer, and author Fatima Moumouni stops by with her new play DIE WEISSE MADONNA VON EINSIEDELN, which has been running at Theater Basel since April 22nd—and National Councillor Jacqueline Badran brings along an entire eventful life. More than enough material for great conversation. There is still a musical performance on top of it all, though—so which ensemble member grabbed the key to the music room this time?
WITH: Rock Battaglia, Fatima Moumouni, Jacqueline Badran
Nr. 2
On January 31, 2026, guests who haven't met yet will be dropping by to get acquainted over some doorman gossip. First up is mayoral candidate Përparim Avdili, who chose not to change his name to Armin Adilli or Illi despite Weltwoche's recommendation. Reena Krishnaraja from Appenzell visits the gatehouse because the doorman wants to introduce her to the artistic management. Author Katja Früh drops in—not to audition as a former actress, God forbid (her words, not mine), but to deliver her new book. Ensemble member Florian Voigt performs a enchanting Spanish art song before heading off to the premiere of STÜTZLIWÖSCH TRE at 8:30 PM in the Schauspielhaus cellar (he delivers a glorious performance in STÜTZLIWÖSCH DUE himself). Right at the start, because the doorman arrives late for his shift change, the ensemble psychologist and actress minds the gatehouse for a few minutes—a classic dramaturgical trick. She simply thinks the entire theater is magnificent.
WITH: Përparim Avdili, Reena Krishnaraja, Katja Früh, Florian Voigt, Rahel Hubacher
Nr. 1
Mike Müller certainly has a few questions for the guests dropping by his place on December 9, 2025. Things might get serious when asking a politician running for mayor the ultimate Gretchenfrage: "Ms. Kahriman, tell me, where do you stand on theater?" The doorman definitely won't be asking Karin Pfammatter, a member of the Schauspielhaus ensemble, that kind of question. With her, the conversation will likely touch on a nostalgic teenage fetish. Here’s a quick spoiler: Mike Müller, coming from outside Switzerland’s central regions, skied on the exact same brand as downhill hotshot Karin Pfammatter during his youth—Blizzard, pronounced the German way. Then there are two Oberwinterthur locals hosting a highly successful podcast aimed at people whose names get flagged in red by Word: Yoldaş Gündoğdu and Serhat Koca of Kurds & Bündig. Mike Müller isn't quite sure whether to welcome them as Oberwinterthur Kurds or Kurdish Oberwinterthur locals—or if that distinction even matters at all. Yoldaş and Serhat have their eyes on the theater management and are dreaming big. At least, that's what the doorman believes.
WITH: Serap Kahriman, Karin Pfammatter, Yoldaş Gündoğdu, and Serhat Koca