Mummenschanz – 50 Years: A Different Kind of Theatre Comes to Istanbul

What if a theatre performance could tell an entire story without a single spoken word? Swiss visual theatre company Mummenschanz has built more than five decades of work around that idea, using masks, everyday objects and physical movement in place of dialogue. Its anniversary production, 50 Years, arrives in Istanbul this week for two performances at Paribu Art.

A company that rewrote the rules

Floriana Frassetto, Andres Bossard and Bernie Schürch founded Mummenschanz in Paris in 1972. Rather than relying on scripts, sets or conventional characters, the trio developed a stage language of masks and abstract forms performed against a black background. A three-year Broadway run, from 1977 to 1980, helped establish the company internationally.

Bossard died in 1992 and Schürch retired in 2012, and Frassetto has led the company since. She is artistic director of 50 Years and performs in it alongside Tess Burla, Sarah Lerch, Simon Huggler and Kevin Blaser.

What to expect

50 Years brings back some of the company’s best-known creations, including the Clay Masks, the Toilet Paper Faces, the inflatable Giants and the Tube Creature, alongside newer sketches and characters. Simple shapes become faces, creatures and personalities through movement alone. The show moves between visual comedy, physical theatre and quieter, more poetic moments.

There is no dialogue, so no knowledge of Turkish is needed. The performance runs for approximately 90 minutes without an interval.

The production is billed as a family show, which makes it a good outing with children. For younger kids, the Sunday matinee at 15:00 is the easier fit.

Make a Day of It in Kadıköy

Make it a wider day out on Istanbul’s Asian side. From the lively market streets and independent cafés to Moda’s seaside promenades, the neighborhood offers plenty to explore before or after the show.

New to the area? Read our Kadıköy neighborhood guide for local tips on where to eat, drink, explore and experience one of Istanbul’s most distinctive districts.

Event details

• Event: Mummenschanz – 50 Years

• Dates: Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 20:30 (doors 20:00); Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 15:00

• Venue: Paribu Art – Ana Sahne, Kurbağalıdere Cad. No: 2/26, GH Blok, Hasanpaşa, Kadıköy, Istanbul

• Duration: Approximately 90 minutes, no interval

• Language: Non-verbal

• Audience: Family production (per the official listing)

• Seating: Unreserved (general admission)

• Tickets: Paribu Pass

• Company: mummenschanz.com

Before you go, check the ticketing page for the Sunday door-opening time and any schedule changes.