class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>
According to initiator Toni Kleimann, about 3,400 signatures were obtained. The referendum opposes the Basel government’s plans to set up a swimming pool in the Musical Theatre. It advocates that the hall remain a cultural use and an alternative venue for the indoor pool.
“We were shocked by the idea of the Basel government to destroy a beautiful and intact theater,” Kleimann said when the signatures were handed over. The electorate must therefore decide ‘whether this kind of culture’ can live on,’ said the initiator.
During the parade through Freie Strasse and in the town hall, both the nun-robed music ensemble and about 50 supporters began to sing a song. They sang about the location with the title “Hörsch die Drummle” and a melody from the musical “Les Misérables”.
In the spring of 2022, the government of Basel announced that it would install the 50-meter swimming pool that Basel has needed for decades in the building that now houses the concert and theater hall. At the end of 2024, the lease with the Muziektheater was terminated in mutual consultation. The government council said that the renovation of the building envelope and the theater would require an investment of 50 to 80 million euros. Moreover, the theater cannot be operated sustainably without government subsidies.
Shortly before the government decision, a separate citizens’ initiative was submitted calling for an indoor swimming pool with a 50-meter pool. This year, the Grand Council decided to extend the voting period for the indoor swimming pool initiative in order to avoid conflicts with the musical theater initiative.
The Kulturhaus am Riehenring opened in 1995 as a theater for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Phantom of the Opera” and has 1,567 seats. In addition to musicals, it is also used for concerts, dance events and comedy shows. In addition, Basel’s largest pre-carnival event, “Drummeli”, was staged there until 2020. (SDA)
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
