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About this place
Theater am Neumarkt is one of Zürich's most important small stages, housed in a historic building at Neumarkt 5 in the heart of the old town. It presents contemporary plays, new writing and experimental projects, and the house itself has more than 280 years of eventful history behind it, from a shoemakers' guildhall to a gathering place of the labour movement.
Where is the theatre?
The theatre sits in the Niederdorf, the historic quarter on the hill east of the Limmat river. The area is narrow, intimate and easy to explore on foot. Spiegelgasse, where Vladimir Lenin lived during his Swiss exile, runs right nearby. From the main railway station it is a walk of roughly a quarter of an hour across the river.
What is the building's history?
David Morf built or converted the house in 1742 for the shoemakers' guild. It served as a guildhall for only about fifty years. After the French Revolution it was sold and later ran as a girls' school until 1877. In 1888 it passed to Eintracht Zürich, a German workers' education association, and became an important meeting point for the labour movement.
The City of Zürich bought the property in 1933. From the 1940s the hall hosted guest performances under the name "Theater am Neumarkt", and from 1949 to 1951 it was the permanent home of the well-known Cabaret Cornichon. Since 1966 the building has housed the theatre that operates here today.
What can you see here?
The stage is known for a daring repertoire. It hosted the premieres of Adolf Muschg's "Rumpelstilz" (1968), Peter Handke's "Die Unvernünftigen sterben aus" (1974) and Urs Widmer's "Top Dogs" (1996), a play about the world of work and corporate life that travelled to many countries. The programme changes by season and includes premieres, guest productions and projects on the border of theatre, performance art and public debate. Performances are mostly in German, so check whether a production offers surtitles or another language version.
What is the auditorium like?
The main hall is flexible: the seating can be rearranged to suit each staging and holds up to 170 people, which keeps the audience very close to the performers. A small annex on Chorgasse offers a second space for up to 40 people, used for more intimate formats.
Who runs the theatre?
The institution is operated by Theater am Neumarkt AG, a company majority-owned by the city and canton of Zürich. Public backing lets the theatre take risks with non-commercial productions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak German? Most performances are in German, though some projects are multilingual. Check the current programme for details on each title.
Can I tour the building itself? It is a working theatre, so the easiest way to see the interior is to attend a show. The facade and the surrounding old town can be viewed at any time.
How many seats are there? The main hall takes up to 170 spectators, and the small stage on Chorgasse up to 40.
Should I book tickets in advance? With such small audiences, popular premieres can sell out quickly, so booking ahead is sensible.
What else is nearby? The lanes of the Niederdorf, Spiegelgasse and the Limmat riverside promenades.
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