The Winkelwiese Theatre has been offering a stage for contemporary theatre texts since 1964. Theatre Winkelwiese searches for strong stories and idiosyncratic narrative voices and has been offering the chance to discover current and innovative ...
Before attending, double-check the required language skills on the organizer's website.
Polyester heart
by Sarah Calörtscher
Swiss premiere
Planet Earth has been plasticised and destroyed. Virtually all life and existence have come to a standstill. Now, at a final stopover between Earth and the universe, a few of the remaining Earthlings find themselves gathered here. From here, the final step towards a hopeful future is to be taken: the escape to Mars.
A friendly algorithm acts as host and introduces a quiet yet relentless competition: who is worthy of becoming part of the new species on Mars? Those with capital, with life experience, with knowledge? The Earthlings are conscientiously fleeing their past towards the future. Yet, little by little, their longings catch up with them precisely because they are trying to escape them. And the algorithm, too, does not appear to be the final protagonist in this play.
In the hope of a future and a search for meaning, Herz aus Polyester a world in which longing has long since become a commodity. In doing so, it raises the question of what actually makes life worth living. What are we fighting against, if not just ourselves? In her poetic science fiction, author Sarah Calörtscher explores, amidst climate grief, the promises of technology and contemporary alienation, what supposedly holds us together: the narrative of a better tomorrow.
Herz aus Polyester was created in 2022/23 as part of the playwrights’ support programme DRAMENPROZESSOR at the Theater Winkelwiese. Sarah Calörtscher was awarded the prestigious Kleist Prize in 2024 for her play.
To this organizer's website
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
20:00
CHF 40 / CHF 32 / CHF 15
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
20:00
CHF 40 / CHF 32 / CHF 15
Cast: Sofia Borsani, Samuel Braun, Moïse de Quay, Anita Sophia Somogyi
Text: Sarah Calörtscher
Director: Sophia Bodamer
Dramaturgy: Anna Bertram, Kristina Malyseva
Set design: Prisca Baumann
Music: Tobias Preisig
Choreography: Mariane Justen
Assistant director: Mariane Justen
Set design assistants: Salomé König, Azuka Angulo
Technical team: Patrick Meury, Paul Schuler
Theater Winkelwiese
Winkelwiese 4
8001 Zürich
+41 (0)44 252 10 01
office@winkelwiese.ch
Accessibility:
Infos Zugänglichkeit:
Getting there
The Winkelwiese Theatre is located in the listed Villa Tobler and is about 350 metres from the Haltestelle Kunsthaus. Two streets have to be crossed. The last 50 metres or so are on a paved road with a slight incline.
Wheelchair-accessible parking is available in the Hoch Promenade car park.
The main entrance is up two flights of stairs (three and five steps). To the right of the main entrance is a step-free side entrance that is only accessible when accompanied by staff. From here, a lift takes you to the foyer.
In the house
The box office is mobile and is not always in the same place. Due to protective measures (corona virus), glass panels are currently installed at the box office and bar.
The theatre hall and bar are accessible from the foyer via a permanently installed ramp. The space situation may change depending on the production.
There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet to the left of the lift.
Reservation and tickets
Wheelchair spaces can be booked via Reservation Form (please indicate under "Remarks") or at office@winkelwiese.ch / +41 (0)44 252 10 01.
Assistants who accompany people with a disability to a performance will receive a free ticket.
