Swiss Playwrights (2026 – 2027)

As part of the SAPA Foundation's «Swiss Playwrights» project, the literary estates of several Swiss authors, including Alfred Gehri, Tista Murk, and Wilhelm Michael Treichlinger, are currently being re-catalogued and made accessible. The goal is not only to secure and structure these unsorted materials but also to highlight the authors' artistic work within its historical and cultural context and to make it accessible to a wider public.

The estate of W. M. Treichlinger, currently being processed, impressively demonstrates the diversity of his work. The collection comprises typescripts, translations, and working materials in several languages, including Chinese texts, as well as numerous different versions of individual works. Particularly fascinating are the insights into his working methods: correspondence with foreign institutions, for example, documents his research for international cookbooks ("The World in Recipes"), while theatre-related materials such as stage designs or premiere announcements ("The Song of the Lute") reflect his work in theatre. Literary and contemporary historical texts, such as farewell letters from the Second World War ("The Last Letter of a Hostage"), are also part of the collection. Furthermore, scrap sheets with translation notes from Chinese offer a direct insight into his working process, revealing his intensive engagement with language and meaning. This is complemented by personal documents that provide insights into his biography and the historical context.

While the Treichlinger estate is already partially structured, the collections of the other authors are still in the early stages of processing. The project aims to gradually organise these diverse materials and make them accessible in the long term.

We thank the Christoph Geiser Foundation for its generous support.