History of Theater STOK

Theater STOK is a little gem on the edge of the Alstadt of Zurich. As of January 2026 it is run by a collective composed of professionals from various cultural fields. Its members are determined to keep the theatre going In the future/over the next few years with their idealism and energy, in a forward-looking, innovative form, despite the lack of subsidies.  Zurich continues to need a stimulating, one-of-a-kind, affordable venue for theatre.

As for its history: Theater Stok was founded in 1970 by Zbigniew Stok, as an alternative to the established cultural institutions. Zbigniew Stok and his partner Erica Hänssler directed the theatre for 20 years. From 1992 until her death in 2016, Erica Hänssler ran the theatre with Peter Doppelfeld, who took over as general director from 2016 to 2018. He was then joined by Christina Steybe (manager) and Roland Brand (technician). Since the city of Zurich did not renew its subsidies for 2026, Peter Doppelfeld and his team stepped down at the end of 2025.