Literary highlights in May

A walk through the mountains, where the sky rests in your eyes. A shepherd whose flock is kidnapped. And a child who dreams of deer at night and wants nothing more than to turn into a blooming meadow.

Together with the musician Nadja Stroller, the award-winning author and spoken word artist Rolf Hermann lets images and sounds flow into one another until childhood and landscape, melancholy and jokes merge into memory and beauty.

Monday, 13 May 2024, Sogar Theatre, 7-8 pm, admission: CHF 35, reduced CHF 20/10

A village is increasingly drowning in dreams and even the fourteen-year-old narrator Li Niannian knows: "In dreams, people want to make their wishes come true", but if only it were that easy... Yan Lianke's new novel, translated from Chinese by Marc Hermann, describes in eerie images how a village is haunted by sleepwalkers. Instead of wish fulfilment, chaos threatens, because "the birds fly into the head and mess everything up." Moderation: Manfred Papst.

Wednesday, 15 May, Literaturhaus Zurich, 19:30, admission: CHF 22, concessions: CHF 10/15

In the spoken word performance "COLD", Moumouni and Buser merge into one person. In short, they embark on a wild road trip to escape their inner detachment from the world. And perhaps even a little more from herself. Dulled and sleepless, she wanders through new-build flats and glacial lakes, through wellness hotels and stinking swamps. But how can she throw herself into world events without burning up? The second programme by the Salzburg Bull award-winning duo tackles urgent topics and seeks a poetic and humorous approach to them.

Thursday, 16 May, 21:00, Gessnerallee Zurich, Hall East, remaining tickets available at the box office, further dates: 19 May 2024.

Just in time for the ice saints, it's getting really chilly again at the Aargauer Kunsthaus. Because in the exhibition "Schau, wie der Gletscher schwindet", there is a lot of frozen white. With the help of children and their companions, however, many animals, creatures and beings suddenly come to life in the artworks on Swiss Read Aloud Day. There are fairy tales to listen to and the exciting story of a girl in which the disappearance of the glaciers plays a dramatic role that leads to a very special adventure.

For accompanied children aged six and over. Wednesday, 22 May 2024, Aargauer Kunsthaus, 13:30-14:30, admission free