Identity
Why Balkan culture in the diaspora matters more today than ever
Twenty years ago, when I was younger, there were plenty of entertainment events in Switzerland for our people. But what really pulled me in were the events for young audiences I kept hearing about from my friends in Belgrade — regulars at the theatre and at concerts. Back then, the idea of organising cultural events in our language in Switzerland was something out of the ordinary.
Today it is a need — our community has changed, and there are many more of us with the same wishes and the same hunger.
We live fast, we live between cultures. We often forget where we belong.
And that is exactly why Balkan culture has a new value today — not as nostalgia, but as identity.
Theatre, film, music — these are not just content, they reflect our lives.
They are themes we understand without translation.
I see it every time at the events: people come not just for the artists, they come for the feeling, for the language, for the mentality, for something that brings them back to themselves and to balance.
That is why I believe that what we do through HELSE carries even more weight today than before.
We are not just preserving culture. We live it — together.
And that is the reason we keep going.
— Evica
Our stories
The night when all of Zurich becomes a museum
Evica Marković3 September 2026There are places we walk past for years, always thinking: I will go in some other time. Zurich has many of them…
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The first day of school between two languages
Evica Marković27 August 2026At the end of August, a familiar moment happens in Zurich. The city's summer rhythm has not quite faded, the days are still long, the terraces full — and then, one Monday, new school bags appear at the tram stops, slightly too big for small backs, parents trying to look more relaxed than they feel, and children setting out for the first time on a path that will become completely ordinary to them in the years ahead…
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Why I come back to Theater Spektakel every summer
Evica Marković20 August 2026A few hours after the performance Multitud, I caught myself thinking only about the people I had met on my way to the theatre — about the families sitting on the grass by the lake, the children running between the food stalls, and the elderly couple who, holding hands, waited patiently for some other performance to begin. Maybe that is exactly why I come to Theater Spektakel every year…
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
HELSE is a Swiss cultural association that fosters exchange between Switzerland and Serbia. Through theatre, film, music, stand-up and children's workshops we build cultural bridges — alive, inspiring and open to everyone.
Our programme is diverse: theatre performances, film screenings, stand-up comedy, concerts, readings, seminars and children's workshops.
Events run year-round — the current schedule lives in the Events section.
Tickets are sold online via each event's page and, for some programmes, at the door before the show. HELSE members receive discounts on selected events.
Membership is open to anyone who wants to support the association. The annual fee is CHF 70, with reduced rates for students and pensioners.
Sign up via the Membership page — for any additional questions, write to info@helse.ch.