Der Gipfel I Ruhrfestspiele 2025

The Summit by Christoph Marthaler
Co-production of the Ruhrfestspiele with the Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
German premiere

What kind of summit is Christoph Marthaler's "Summit" about? A natural event? An exclusive political forum? A pastry? And who are the climbing specialists, summit participants and pastry chefs? As is usually the case in the Swiss director's work, the answers to such questions are not clear-cut. Rather, they become tangible in cross-fades and form branching paths through the labyrinths of everyday thought and action that are in danger of collapsing.

Only one thing seems incontrovertible: Christoph Marthaler and his six-strong ensemble of Italian, French, Swiss, Austrian and Scottish actors and musicians embark on an expedition into inhospitable climes, to a meeting on the summit.

Those who have just had their hand in the dough will shortly afterwards grab the microphone and call on the nations of the world to take action. Someone who has just hammered the safety hooks into the rock suddenly sings the song "Là-haut sur la montagne" together with a group of summit collectors and can never be sure whether he or she is witnessing the eternal sunrise or the final sunset.

Six actors, several languages, a summit meeting that needs to be organized. In "The Summit", Christoph Marthaler brings together theater, song and music in an international co-production in his unmistakable way. Following the world premiere in Milan at the famous Piccolo Teatro and performances at the Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, the Ruhrfestspiele will present the German premiere of Marthaler's new expedition.

Audience discussion: June 2, following the performance
Age indication: 14+
Language information: in Italian, French, English and German with German surtitles