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Since 2019 the Volkstheaterfestival Meiringen has been bringing non-professional theatre makers from all over Switzerland to the Haslital. This page records what has been: the editions, the groups, the award-winning performances — and the two years when no curtain went up.

It begins with an evening in Meiringen. Beat Schlatter has just performed the comedy «Polizeiruf 117» on the stage of the legendary Hotel Adler, for the anniversary of the theatre group Glinggige. Afterwards, everyone ends up at Infi's Sherlock Club and then at Oski's home. Long after midnight Schlatter gives the police officer Thierry Ueltschi a lecture on Switzerland's festivals — jazz in Montreux, comedy in Arosa, film in Locarno — and asks: «Why has nobody ever thought of an amateur theatre festival? Meiringen would be the ideal place for it … and you, Thierry, the ideal president.» The man addressed, as the festival chronicle tells it, answers with a little snore. Three days later he rings and asks whether that was meant seriously. It was.

On 26 October 2017 the festival presents itself to the public: Thierry Ueltschi as president, Werner Thöni, Sara Santschi and Martin Infanger on the organising committee, Beat Schlatter as co-initiator — announced for June 2019, with eight groups from all over Switzerland and a golden Meringue as the prize. The aim in one sentence, unchanged ever since: bringing theatre-makers together.

On 18 February 2018 the association «Volkstheaterfestival Meiringen» is founded. Its purpose is still set out in the statutes today: to preserve, promote and nurture amateur theatre — and to bring together theatre-makers from different fields. In April the theatre commission under Enrico Maurer starts work; it will visit every production that registers.

On 9 June, Beat Schlatter returns to the Hotel Adler-Central with «Die Bank-Räuber»: two performances, this time presented by the festival. On 23 September Meiringen votes 80.3 per cent in favour of renovating the Tramhalle for 1.2 million francs — the festival had campaigned for the proposal and equips the new cultural venue with stage, lighting and sound. The canton, the municipality and foundations co-fund the set-up through the New Regional Policy.

Since September the «Meiringer Muse» has been writing a monthly newsletter, a lorry trailer carries the logo across Switzerland, and from 16 August to 15 October a fundraising campaign for the first edition runs on lokalhelden.ch, the platform of the Raiffeisenbank Region Haslital-Brienz. By the registration deadline in December, 37 groups have applied; the theatre commission selects eight.

Motto: «Es u huere Theater!» (one heck of a theatre!)

Eight groups performed in the Tramhalle, with the Théâtre de la Tournelle from Orbe out of competition — the first group from French-speaking Switzerland in Meiringen. The festival opened on 12 June in the theatre marquee with alphorn music and speeches by former Federal Councillor Adolf Ogi, Grand Council president Hannes Zaugg-Graf and mayor Roland Frutiger. 25 workshops and eight excursions accompanied the week, with the theatre sermon on Sunday; the specially composed Volkstheater anthem was played at the award ceremony. 1419 admissions were for the performances, 167 for the sermon and the award ceremony; two of the four evening performances were sold out. The groups stayed in Meiringen all week — around 500 overnight stays, a principle that still applies today.

Jury

Beat Schlatter (president and co-initiator) · Mike von Grünigen · Liliana Heimberg · Adrian Morgenegg · Linda Trachsel · Anna Wepfer · Mike La Marr

Theatre groups

Die Kulisse Zug, «Tell im Keller» · Theater Nussbaumen, «Gester isch au no en Tag» · Schopfbühne Grenchen, «Holzers Peepshow» · die dramateure zürich, «Gefährliche Kurve» · Theatergruppe Friesenberg, «Wie wärs mit Tee?» · Theatergruppe St. Silvester, «Ganovenparty» · Theater Paprika, «Die Frau von früher» · Theatergruppe Russikon, «Nüüt als Sand» · Théâtre de la Tournelle, Orbe, «Théâtrogrammes» (out of competition)

Awards

• Best ensemble — Die Kulisse Zug, «Tell im Keller» travelling trophy
• Best leading actress — Pia Schild, Schopfbühne Grenchen, «Holzers Peepshow»
• Best leading actress — Simone Bächler, Die Kulisse Zug, «Tell im Keller»
• Best leading actor — Peter Rathgeb, Theater Nussbaumen, «Gester isch au no en Tag»
• Best supporting actor — Gian Valenti, Theatergruppe Friesenberg, «Wie wärs mit Tee?»
• Special prize for an outstanding achievement — die dramateure zürich, «Gefährliche Kurve»
• Special prize for an outstanding achievement — Corinne Rathgeb, Theater Nussbaumen, «Gester isch au no en Tag»

That year the jury was able to name a second best leading actress.

Both editions fell victim to the pandemic — the second had been planned for 10 to 14 June 2020, followed by a shortened programme for 11 to 13 June 2021. Instead of a festival, 2020 brought the online format «inteam»: a look behind the scenes at the people who carry the festival, with a panel discussion on the Thursday of the festival week. The films from that time are still available on the festival's YouTube channel.

On 7 January 2021 the festival received the Innovationspreis Berner Oberland 2020 from Volkswirtschaft Berner Oberland, as one of four projects honoured. The jury highlighted that, alongside playing and watching theatre, the focus is on being together and networking. Meanwhile, Die Kulisse Zug kept the golden Meringue in its club premises for three years.

Motto: «Jetz ersch rächt!!» (now more than ever!!)

After two cancelled years this was not the fourth but only the second edition. The festival opened on 15 June with the yodelling group Jodlerinnen Engelhooren; «Schweiz aktuell» broadcast live from Meiringen the same evening, and «Gesichter & Geschichten» followed on 20 June. At the award ceremony the musician Christian Häni coined the phrase of the festival as the «Hollywood of amateur theatre» — and SRF picked it up; the television reports are listed under Press coverage 2022. 791 admissions; Saturday evening was the best attended. On Saturday morning the Kino Meiringen showed a matinée with the Festival du Film Français d'Helvétie — the beginning of what later became the Kino+.

Jury

Beat Schlatter (president and patron) · Daniel Arnet · Michaela Kälin · Ädu Morgenegg

Theatre groups

Zweierkiste, «Runter zum Fluss» · Die Schatulle, «Tee, Zitrone oder ohne?» · Theater StuckaTOUR, «Kunst» · theater nota bene, «Der Kuss der Spinnenfrau» · Zytglogge Theater-Gsellschaft Bärn, «Farm der Tiere» · die dramateure zürich, «Central Park West» · Theater Toffen, «Verdingbueb» · Theaterverein Worben, «Traumhochziit»

Awards

• Best performance — Theater Toffen, «Verdingbueb» travelling trophy
• Best actress — Simone Brunner, Zweierkiste, «Runter zum Fluss»
• Best actor — Stefan Hugi, theater nota bene, «Der Kuss der Spinnenfrau»
• Best supporting actress — Barbara von Holzen, Die Schatulle, «Tee, Zitrone oder ohne?»
• Best supporting actor — Thom F. Kueng, Die Schatulle, «Tee, Zitrone oder ohne?»
• Special prize for an outstanding achievement — Theaterverein Worben, «Traumhochziit»
• Special prize for an outstanding achievement: best ensemble playing — Die Schatulle, «Tee, Zitrone oder ohne?»

Motto: «Meiringen ist Mehrwert!» (Meiringen is added value!)

1373 admissions, 19 per cent more than the year before. The Kino+ was added as a second venue; with the Théâtre du Pavé a group from French-speaking Switzerland played in Meiringen again — out of competition. Also new was the «Ticketpark TheaterTalk», two moderated panel discussions during the festival. From 21 November to 26 December 2023 a second fundraising campaign ran on lokalhelden.ch, this time for the 2024 edition. The festival opened on 14 June with Etter Mättu and Panaccusticum, with words of welcome from mayor Daniel Studer and ZSV president Lukas Lewicki; at the award ceremony Michel Préperier spoke for the French-speaking Swiss federation FSSTA. 75 theatre-makers stayed in Meiringen for the week — 247 overnight stays.

Jury

Beat Schlatter (president) · Corine Turrini · Flavian Cajacob · Miriam Margani · Peter Staub

Theatre groups

Fisch on Tour, «Fisch zu viert» · Junge Bühne Thun, «Supertheo» · Seniorentheater Herbschtrose, «Lieber ledig und frei» · Schopfbühne Grenchen, «Gueti Geischter» · Spot on! Hittnau, «Narzissen» · Die Kulisse Zug, «Nachbeben» · Theater Sempach, «Frau Müller muss weg» · Nora and the Gang, «Das Da Vinci Brot» · Théâtre du Pavé, Villeneuve, «Le Repas des fauves» (Kino+, out of competition)

Awards

• Best play — Theater Sempach, «Frau Müller muss weg» travelling trophy
• Best actress — Carmen Frei-Keiser, Theater Sempach, «Frau Müller muss weg»
• Best actor — Paul Mächler, Die Kulisse Zug, «Nachbeben»
• Best supporting actress — Jeannine Greber, Junge Bühne Thun, «Supertheo»
• Best writing — Jan Weissenfels, Die Kulisse Zug, for «Nachbeben»
• Best writing — Fabian Wenk and Sebastian Henn, Nora and the Gang, for «Das Da Vinci Brot»

Motto: «Theaterschaffendi zäme bringe» (bringing theatre-makers together)

For the first time Hannes Zaugg-Graf led the jury; its six members judged on a voluntary basis. The festival opened on 12 June with Cantonal Councillor Christine Häsler and Fabienne Frutiger, Resort Director Haslital; the award ceremony was hosted by Anne Hodler. New were the festival pass and the personalised ticket with Ticketpark, and the annual general meeting of the Zentralverband Schweizer Volkstheater took place in Meiringen the weekend before. 1111 admissions, 561 overnight stays — and the supporting association grew to around 210 members.

Theatre groups

Spiegelbühne Köniz, «Das perfekte Geheimnis» · Theatergruppe Rhybrugg Diepoldsau, «Häascht an Voogil?» · Theatergruppe Die DREIsten, «Nach der Party» · Theater Hallau, «De Schacher Sepp» · Georgsbühne Arth, «Das perfekte Geheimnis» · Bühne 66 Schwyz, «Der Gott des Gemetzels» · Kellertheater Murten, «Laura und Lotte» · Schopfbühne Grenchen, «EXTRAWURST» · Le Collectif OZ, Lausanne, «Tu me manques… de communication!» (festival tent, out of competition)

Awards

• Best production — Georgsbühne Arth, «Das perfekte Geheimnis» by Paolo Genovese travelling trophy
• Outstanding direction — Benno Inderbitzin, Georgsbühne Arth, «Das perfekte Geheimnis»
• Outstanding acting — Renato Küttel, Bühne 66 Schwyz, «Der Gott des Gemetzels»
• Outstanding acting — Gerti Haymoz, Kellertheater Murten, «Laura und Lotte»
• Outstanding short appearance — Andreas Kiener, Kellertheater Murten, «Laura und Lotte»
• Outstanding small ensemble — Die DREIsten, «Nach der Party» by Angelika Waldis
• Outstanding text work — Schopfbühne Grenchen, «EXTRAWURST» by Dietmar Jacobs and Moritz Netenjakob

Motto: «Meer Volkstheaterfestival!»

25 groups had applied. Eight played in competition in the Tramhalle, four out of competition in the new Kino+, plus an improv theatre and a youth production — three of the twelve productions in French. Ten workshops counted 124 participants, almost twice as many as the year before. The award ceremony was hosted by Aline Beetschen. 1503 admissions.

Jury

Without a president: Michel Préperier · Frank Rüfenacht · Liliana Heimberg · Hans Ulrich Glarner · Simone Brunner · Paul Mächler

Theatre groups

Theatergruppe Bremgarten, «Gschtürm im Schtägehus» · Dramatischer Verein Dielsdorf, «Drei sind zwei zu viel» · Theatergruppe Oberägeri, «Die Garageusen» · Zytglogge Theater Bern, «Gasliecht» · Compagnie Les dispARaTes, «Les soeurs Donahue» · Georgsbühne Arth, «Glückliche Zeiten» · Zytglogge Theater-Gsellschaft Bärn, «Abefahre – Stressfrei in 5 Tagen» · Theatergesellschaft Horw, «Der Gott des Gemetzels» · Jugendtheater Turgi, «Trapped – Gefangen» (Kino+, out of competition) · Impro-Leck-TuEllen vs Theater Brienz, Improtheater (Kino+, out of competition) · Aarethéâtre, Bern, «La Bonne Planque» (Kino+, out of competition) · Theatre Neuf, «Hotel des deux mondes» (Kino+, out of competition)

Awards

• Best ensemble — Zytglogge Theater Bern, «Gasliecht» travelling trophy
• Outstanding lighting effects — Zytglogge Theater Bern, «Gasliecht»
• Outstanding stage design — Theatergruppe Oberägeri, «Die Garageusen»
• Best production in text and music — Compagnie Les dispARaTes, «Les Sœurs Donahue»
• Outstanding acting — Julia Dago, Georgsbühne Arth, «Glückliche Zeiten»
• Outstanding acting — Lukas Ketterer, Georgsbühne Arth, «Glückliche Zeiten»
• Outstanding acting — Sandra Werle, Theater Dielsdorf, «Drei sind zwei zu viel»

Motto: «Eifach Theater» (simply theatre)

The most recent edition so far. Seven golden Meringues went to productions from German-speaking Switzerland and from French-speaking Switzerland.

Jury

Without a president: Liliana Heimberg · Hans Ulrich Glarner · Fabienne Hadorn · Michel Préperier · Barbara Terpoorten · Frank Rüfenacht

Theatre groups

Theater Grüningen, «Frau Müller muss weg» · Theaterduo WABU, «Plan B» · Theater Brienz, «TOC TOC» · TheaterWärch Stans, «Eine Leiche auf der Flucht» · La Troupe ATRAC, Le Landeron, «Un grand cri d'amour» · Heimatbühne Werdenberg, «Alli und doch niemert!» · Theaterverein Worben, «fix&fertig – und das am Hochziitsmorge» · Theaterkompanie, «CONNECTED» · Kindertheatergruppe «Lern mit», «Alles oder Nichts» (Kino+, out of competition) · Seniorentheater Silberfüchse Toggenburg, «Don Giovanni im Altersheim» (Kino+, out of competition) · Théâtre du Clos-Bernon, Courtelary, «La cagnotte» (Kino+, out of competition)

Awards

• Best ensemble — La Troupe ATRAC, «Un grand cri d’amour» travelling trophy
• Best exposition — Theater Grüningen, «Frau Müller muss weg»
• Comic timing — Theaterduo WABU, «Plan B»
• Outstanding situational comedy — Theaterverein Worben, «fix&fertig – und das am Hochziitsmorge»
• Outstanding acting — Maria Minutella, TheaterWärch Stans
• Outstanding ensemble interplay — Theater Brienz, «TOC TOC»
• Contemporary play development — Theaterkompanie, «CONNECTED»

1933 admissions and bookings, 71 per cent occupancy, 608 overnight stays, 62 volunteers — and the supporting association now counts 343 members. The festival opened with the Meiringen group Lunaris, and the Halunken Duo accompanied the award ceremony. With La Troupe ATRAC from Le Landeron and the Théâtre du Clos-Bernon from Courtelary, two groups from French-speaking Switzerland made up around 15 per cent of the participants; the workshop «Over the Röschtigrabe» was attended in both languages, and the children's theatre «Lern mit» played in the Kino+.

The main prize is a travelling trophy. It was designed by Martin Brunner, and the meringues are donated by the Frutal Versandbäckerei.

The travelling trophy moves on with every edition: Die Kulisse Zug (2019) · Theater Toffen (2022) · Theater Sempach (2023) · Georgsbühne Arth (2024) · Zytglogge Theater Bern (2025) · La Troupe ATRAC, Le Landeron (2026).