Burgbachkeller sets new impulses

Start of the season in Zug’s little theatre: The first season to be created under the new management aims to appeal to additional audiences with four special formats –without deviating from the tried and tested concept.

While the cultural scene has slowly started up again everywhere and is diligently trying to satisfy the creative hunger of the population, the small cellar stage in the middle of the old town of Zug is following suit, and will open its doors next Friday. Here, too, the season has emerged under the familiar, unfamiliar omens, and has put the two responsible persons, Madeleine Flury and Giannina Masüger, to the test. After extensive re-organisation, and rescheduling, as well as a mountain of additional administrative work, the programme has now been determined.

It comprises a total of 86 stage events from all genres. This is now the first self-launched season program by the two women since they took over the management of the Burgbachkeller. As they emphasized at the beginning of their artistic direction, they want to maintain the tried and tested concept of the traditional Zug small theatre, but to supplement and expand it with something new – with a strong focus on artists from the region.

Talk, theatre, concerts as well as games and fun
And they are doing it with four new formats. "Heute ZUGast" (Today’s guest from Zug) is inspired by the former ‘Burgbach talks’. It is an evening with three or four guests from Zug who have plenty to talk about, moderated by radio man Dominik Widmer and framed musically. And "ab und zufällig” (now and then at random) is so-called improvisational theatre, which arises spontaneously and unplanned between two duelling sides, randomly and without any advance idea of how it will turn out. The season will open with the first edition of this spectacle on Friday, September 11th (see box below).

Have been in charge of the Burgbachkeller for a year: Giannina Masüger (left) and Madeleine Flury.

The "Fyrabig concerts" will be more relaxed, which will be attract people after work on selected Fridays – with good music and one or more evening beers. And finally, for the younger generation, and scheduled for Sundays, the "Töggelitheater" for children and their parents, grandparents, godfathers and godmothers and so on. Exciting stories are excitingly prepared and staged by professional creators.

"With these series of events, we want to generate additional visitor groups in addition to the regular audience," explains Madeleine Flury, explaining the idea behind these innovations. But they also want to explore how this affects the audience and how it proves itself. Furthermore, as a kind of pilot project, there are selected events that are also specifically carried out as a school presentation. "The idea behind it is to also appeal to new audiences – in this case younger ones – and to inspire them to engage with culture," explains Giannina Masüger.

Dance events in the program
Another new feature is that the dance is now explicitly represented in the program. The small stage does not allow large-format dance spectacles, of course, but does offer an even more intimate setting for artistic confrontations through movement and body language. More information and all other events can be found in the detailed programme at www.burgbachkeller.ch.

Festive start to the season
Festive season opening on Friday, September 11,  8 p.m. The Zug Improgroup ab and zufällig presents the programme together with the theatre directors. There is then an aperitif with music by A.K.A. unknown. Admission free of charge, registration is requested by e-mail. Details of this event and the entire season can be on the theatre website.  
Corona note:  There is a face mask requirement in the theatre for all events.