Theater St. Gallen

Theater St. Gallen is the main opera and theatre house of St. Gallen in north-eastern Switzerland. Opera, musical, ballet and spoken drama all share one roof. It is considered the oldest professional theatre in the country, and its building is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

What is Theater St. Gallen?

It is a multi-genre performing arts centre. The programme mixes music theatre, drama and ballet, so on a single visit you can choose an opera night or a musical depending on the season's schedule. Since 2000 the theatre has operated within Konzert und Theater St. Gallen, an organisation that brings the city's theatre and concert life together.

What does the building look like?

The present house opened on 15 March 1968 with Beethoven's "Fidelio". It was designed by architect Claude Paillard, and construction ran through the mid-1960s. The style is Brutalist: raw, exposed concrete in a bold geometric form that stands apart from the historic townscape around it. Some visitors find it divisive, others see it as an important example of modernist theatre architecture. Its national-significance status shows that Switzerland treats it as part of its cultural heritage.

Why visit?

• See a performance in the oldest professional theatre in Switzerland.
• Admire one of the country's best-known Brutalist buildings.
• Combine an evening show with a stroll through the old town of St. Gallen and its famous landmarks, since the theatre sits in the city itself.

Planning your visit

Programmes, performance times and ticket prices change with the season, so check the current repertoire on the theatre's website and book ahead, especially for premieres. The venue lies at roughly 47.427° N, 9.381° E, within the city, close to the centre and nearby green space.

Frequently asked questions

Does Theater St. Gallen stage opera? Yes. Opera is one of its core genres, alongside musicals, ballet and drama.

When did the current building open? On 15 March 1968, with a performance of Beethoven's "Fidelio".

Who designed it? The architect Claude Paillard.

Is it really the oldest professional theatre in Switzerland? It is considered the oldest professional theatre in the country.

Is the building a protected monument? Yes. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

What architectural style is it? Brutalism: exposed concrete shaped into a geometric mass.

Is the building worth seeing on its own? Yes. Anyone interested in twentieth-century architecture will find a distinctive example of modernism here, even without buying a ticket.