Oswalt Ruth

After graduating from high school, Ruth Oswalt completed teacher training college and worked briefly as a primary school teacher. In 1969, she began her acting training at the Zurich Academy of Dramatic Arts, followed by an internship at various Basel theatres. In 1974, she founded Theater Spilkischte together with her husband Gerd Imbsweiler – the first year-round professional children's theatre in Switzerland. Ruth Oswalt works as a co-director, actress, and co-author at Theater Spilkischte, regularly tours both domestically and internationally, and performs at festivals. In 1987, she and Gerd Imbsweiler, under the direction of Beat Fäh, caused a stir with their adaptation of Les Chaises by Eugène Ionesco.

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Until 1996, they collaborated extensively with Beat Fäh, followed by eight productions with director Antonia Brix. In 1992, they undertook a multi-week tour of Germany with the play Hänschenklein and the new production Hexenfieber. Their play Struwwelväter, which tells the story of the Oswalt family, premiered in 2011.

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For her artistic work, Ruth Oswalt was awarded the Art Prize of the City of Basel in 1987 and the Hans Reinhart Ring in 1999.