My first time … at the Kurtheater Baden

Even the walk to the Kurtheater is an experience in itself: just a five-minute stroll from Baden railway station, I arrive at the modern building right next to a large park. Although it is already dark when I arrive, the surroundings alone suggest that a second visit in daylight would be well worth it. Since its refurbishment in 2020, the Kurtheater Baden has been presented in a new light, with a new foyer for more intimate events and a rehearsal room that also offers space for performances – more on that later. The Kurtheater Baden is a multi-disciplinary venue and, although it appears rather small compared to other theatres, it is the largest in the canton of Aargau. By no means small is its varied programme: dance, drama, musical theatre, as well as children’s and youth plays by and featuring national and international artists. With its co-productions, guest performances and in-house productions, it has officially been counted among the canton’s ‘cultural beacons’ since 2024 – a seal of quality for its national influence and artistic excellence.

Intimacy in the rehearsal room

On my first visit, I’m not greeted by a traditional evening of dance, but by a unique experience. For Un diálogo con las sombras (Dialogue with the Shadows) by the Argentine choreographer Patricia Rotondaro, we meet in the foyer. From there, a member of the foyer team takes us up to the fifth floor, where the rehearsal room is located. On the way there, I have the chance to look around the Kurtheater. The rehearsal room seats around 15 people and creates an almost intimate atmosphere. The audience sits close together and is close to the performer – the usually clear boundary between stage and auditorium seems to dissolve. Patricia Rotondaro does not merely dance within the space; she explores and dances with it. Her only prop is a torch. With this, she casts shadows onto the wall, illuminates her own face and brings the mirrored wall to life. Her gestures are small, subtle, almost fleeting. On a large stage they might well be lost, but here they come across as immediate, intense and moving. The dancer and choreographer makes use of the space in all its intimacy, and I am glad that my first visit to the Kurtheater Baden is taking place right here.

Curious to see more

My verdict? I’ll be back, that’s for sure. Next time, perhaps for an event on the main stage, simply out of curiosity about the venue’s other spaces, which I didn’t get to see on this visit. But if you like intimate settings and are prepared to tackle a few steps – don’t worry, there’s a lift too – you should definitely check out the regular showcases in the rehearsal room. There, artists present early snippets from their current research, raw material, fragments and ideas. And best of all: if you like what you see, you can watch the complete piece on stage a few weeks later.

Has this made you fancy visiting the Kurtheater Baden yourself? You can find the current programme right here below, and perhaps we’ll bump into each other as early as next season!