Artist Feedback: Zürich’s Try-Out festival where artists can get feedback on work in progress 

In the heart of Zürich, the Theater am Hechtplatz has established itself as a vital cultural venue. In 2023, it launched a new initiative, HechtJetzt – das Try-Out Festival, designed to nurture emerging theatre makers. The festival provides a professional stage for artists on the cusp of premiering their productions, giving them the opportunity to test their work in front of a genuine audience. This rare chance to receive unfiltered feedback enables creators to refine their ideas before stepping onto larger stages. 

Moderating a useful feedback session for emerging artists 

The HechtJetzt festival responds to these challenges by providing a structured, high-quality framework. Held annually in summer and running for three to four days, it offers selected Swiss-based artists the chance to perform in German or Swiss-German ahead of their official premiere. The programme prioritises diversity, professionalism, and originality. 

Each chosen artist receives rehearsal time and a single performance slot of 40 to 60 minutes. A moderated discussion follows, encouraging both immediate reflection and deeper exchange between audience and performers. Contributions are drawn not only from theatre specialists but also from those with little or no formal background in the arts, ensuring that feedback reflects a wide spectrum of perspectives. 

For the artists, the value lies not simply in presenting their work, but in encountering an audience that reflects the diversity of a real theatre-going public. Viewers’ candid responses help performers better understand how their work resonates beyond their supportive, but often biased, circle of family and friends. 

To complement the discussion, audience members may also submit anonymous written feedback, which often proves especially valuable. Informal dialogue continues after the performance during an aperitif, where artists and spectators meet on equal terms. Unlike many comparable opportunities, participants are paid for their contribution, ensuring that creative labour is properly recognised. 

Giving audiences access to art in progress 

In just its first editions, the festival has demonstrated significant impact. The Theater am Hechtplatz evaluates success through both data and dialogue—reviewing ticket sales while also collecting direct feedback from artists and audiences. 

Many participants report that the festival has given them crucial insight into the strengths and weaknesses of their productions. Several have even secured further bookings as a direct result of the visibility and networking provided. Audience members, meanwhile, express appreciation for the rare chance to witness the creative process and influence artistic development. 

The Theater am Hechtplatz intends for HechtJetzt to remain a cornerstone of Zürich’s cultural landscape, cultivating new talent while engaging audiences in a deeper relationship with the art form. Its model demonstrates how small theatres can play an outsized role in strengthening a city’s cultural vitality.