Traveling theater in Switzerland
Traveling theater in Switzerland (also: theater, traveling, actor, comedian, gang, troupe, society ) is a theater group without a permanent house, with changing venues.
The traveling theater and its history
Before the time of the Confederation, the traveling theater was developed as a counterpart to the court theaters of the princes and entertained the people with antics known as “ main and state actions ” , which were parodies or travesties of courtly tragedies or operas . With the emergence of the first national theater with permanent actor ensembles in the 18th century, this form of folk theater gradually lost its importance. The traveling theater experienced another heyday through its diversity. In the 21st century, traveling theater also includes circuses and many other smaller theaters.
The legal basis
Traveling theaters are protected in Switzerland by the definition "theater group without a permanent house, with changing venues" and are subject to special laws. As a result, the circus company in Switzerland is exempt from the heavy vehicle charge (LSVA). However, since the definition leaves a lot of leeway, many forms of circus and theater now belong to the "traveling theater".
The political discussion
For the politicians in Switzerland, these exceptions are now too colorful and so the traveling theater “Das Zelt” is suddenly no longer exempt from the HVF and should no longer pay, its existence is endangered. The decision by the authorities met with a lack of understanding.