Luzern’s Kleintheater must raise eight million francs

Luzern’s Kleintheater must raise eight million francs to fund its new premises and higher rent, despite a proposed city grant of 1.84 million francs, SRF reports.

A lease will give the theatre a place in a planned new building from 2033. But it will have to pay market rates, and its director, Janine Bürkli, expects the rent to triple. The theatre’s foundation must also provide financial guarantees: one million francs by summer 2027, followed by a further four million francs the next year.

The Luzern city government has asked the city parliament to approve a special credit of 1.84 million francs for the theatre’s fit-out. The parliament is expected to discuss the request in mid-December. The theatre is also seeking money from foundations.

Bürkli said the theatre does not plan to raise ticket prices or change its programme, which includes cabaret, music, readings and events for families. It intends to keep its existing funding model, drawing roughly one third of its income each from ticket sales, public contributions and private donors.

The theatre’s future was in doubt in early 2024, when the Luzern pension fund, which owns its current building, said it planned to demolish the 1960s structure and replace it with a new one. The pension fund said it could not accommodate the theatre on the same favourable terms. Founded in 1967, the Kleintheater is one of Switzerland’s oldest small theatres.