Schiffbau

What Schiffbau does

Schauspielhaus Zürich AG operates the Schiffbau theater complex in Zürich, Switzerland, one of the major German-language repertory theaters. The company runs three performance venues — Schiffbau Halle, Schiffbau Box, and the Pfauen — staging a diverse repertoire spanning classical works (Bertolt Brecht, Goethe), contemporary drama (Gisèle Vienne, Pınar Karabulut productions), and family/youth-oriented productions (Der Zauberer von Oz, Der kleine Prinz). Beyond core programming, the institution operates youth (Junges Schauspielhaus) and school (Schule) sub-brands, a venue-rental service (Vermietung), and a "Gesellschaft der Freunde" donor society, with an active ensemble of resident artists listed on the company's website.

The business model is a hybrid of ticket sales, season subscriptions (Abos), venue rental, and corporate sponsorship. Revenue is distributed through a proprietary online webshop (tickets.schauspielhaus.ch) and a physical box office at Zeltweg 5, Zürich. The company is financially anchored by three Hauptpartner (main partners): Kultur Stadt Zürich (the city's cultural funding body), Migros Kulturprozent (cultural initiative of Migros, Switzerland's largest retailer), and Zürcher Kantonalbank (Zurich's cantonal bank). These partnerships, together with the Friends-of-the-Theater donor society, function as quasi-public funding alongside ticket and subscription income. Audience reach is extended through a multi-channel digital presence spanning Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Soundcloud, plus an email newsletter. The company is incorporated as a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft (public limited company), operating as an independent cultural institution in a single domestic market (CHE).

Name

Schiffbau

Legal name

Schauspielhaus Zürich AG

Website

https://schiffbau.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schauspielhaus Zürich AG operates the Schiffbau complex and Pfauen theater in Zürich, staging classical, contemporary, and youth theater productions, selling tickets and subscriptions directly to consumers, and supported by the City of Zürich plus Migros Kulturprozent and Zürcher Kantonalbank as main partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Live theater performances
• Performing arts venue
• Theatrical productions
• Season subscriptions
• Stage venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual ticket sales for performances across multiple venues including Schiffbau Halle, Schiffbau Box, Pfauen, and other Spielstätten. Tickets available through online webshop and physical box office.
2. Subscriptions (Abos): Season subscription packages offering discounted access to multiple performances throughout the programming year.
3. Venue Rental (Vermietung): Rental of theater spaces and facilities for external events and productions.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnership agreements with corporate sponsors including main partners Kultur Stadt Zürich, Migros Kulturprozent, and Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schauspielhaus Zürich AG, through the Schiffbau venue and related stages (Schiffbau Halle, Schiffbau Box, Pfauen), stages live theatrical productions for general audiences and supports dedicated youth and educational programs. Customers purchase individual tickets online or at the box office, buy season subscriptions, or hire the venue for external events; programming is funded in part by institutional partners Kultur Stadt Zürich, Migros Kulturprozent, and Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Product overview

Schauspielhaus Zürich operates as a unified theater venue complex, offering live theatrical productions across multiple performance spaces including Schiffbau Halle, Schiffbau Box, and the Pfauen theater. The venue produces and stages plays ranging from classic works (Die Dreigroschenoper, Die Leiden des jungen Werther) to contemporary pieces and youth-oriented programming. Beyond performances, the theater sells individual tickets and season subscriptions, operates educational programs for schools and young audiences, and offers venue rental services. The Schiffbau name refers to the historic shipbuilding factory building that now houses the main performance venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Theater Program Year-round live theatrical productions staged by the resident ensemble and guest artists, covering classical and contemporary repertoire for general audiences.
• Theater Tickets Individual ticket sales for performances across Schiffbau Halle, Schiffbau Box, Pfauen, and other Spielstätten, purchased online or in person.
• Season Subscriptions (Abos) Season subscription packages providing discounted access to multiple performances throughout the theater season for repeat attendees.
• Junges Schauspielhaus (Youth Program) Youth-focused theater programming and productions aimed at young audiences, with age-appropriate repertoire and engagement.
• Schools Program (Schule) Educational theater programs tailored for school groups and classroom visits, supporting educational outreach through live performance.
• Event Rental (Vermietung) Rental of theater spaces and facilities for external events and productions organized by third parties.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thalia Theater Hamburg: Hamburg's leading city theater producing classical and contemporary drama with an internationally recognized ensemble. Directly comparable as a publicly supported German-language repertory theater.
• Berliner Ensemble: Berlin repertory theater founded by Bertolt Brecht with ensemble-based classical and contemporary programming. Comparable as a subsidized German-language theater producing ambitious dramatic works.
• Burgtheater Vienna: Austria's flagship German-language theater with classical and contemporary programming and institutional public funding. Comparable scale, repertoire mix, and sponsorship model.
• Volksbühne Berlin: Berlin theater known for experimental and contemporary programming with municipal subsidy. Comparable scale and German-language repertory positioning, with a more avant-garde artistic profile.
• Münchner Kammerspiele: Munich's premier contemporary drama theater with a strong ensemble tradition. Comparable as a German-language city theater focused on contemporary and classical repertoire.
• Schaubühne Berlin: Berlin's leading repertory theater with a permanent ensemble and contemporary/classical repertoire. Directly comparable as a German-language city theater producing ensemble-driven drama across multiple stages.
• Deutsches Theater Berlin: Major Berlin repertory theater with multiple stages and a resident ensemble. Closely matches Schauspielhaus Zürich's multi-venue, ensemble-driven structure and audience positioning.
• Theater Basel: Switzerland's leading tri-genre theater (drama, opera, ballet) also based in Switzerland. Closely comparable as a publicly supported Swiss theater with multiple venues and institutional sponsorship.
• Schauspiel Köln: Cologne's municipal drama theater with multiple venues and a repertory program. Comparable as a German publicly funded theater with multi-stage operations.

Broad incumbents

• Opernhaus Zürich: Zürich's principal opera and ballet venue, sharing the same city and overlapping institutional sponsorship ecosystem (Zürcher Kantonalbank, City of Zurich). Comparable as a major Swiss performing arts venue, but focused on opera/ballet rather than spoken drama.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schauspielhaus.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schiffbau
• Instagraminstagram.com/schauspielhaus.ch
• TikToktiktok.com/@schauspielhaus.ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schiffbau