“It feels like coming home,” says Cathy Marston (45) standing on Sechseläutenplatz, behind her her future place of work shines in the evening sun: the Zurich Opera House. Born in Britain with a Swiss passport, she will be the new Zurich ballet director from autumn 2022. At the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Marston will initially appear for two seasons, taking over from Christian Spuck (51), who is moving to the Berlin State Ballet. “It all started in Zurich,” says Marston, who trained in dance in Cambridge and at the Royal Ballet School in London. “From 1994 to 1996, when I was 18 years old, I got my first contract as a dancer in Zurich. This is where I grew up, as a person and as an artist. “
Marston was signed for two seasons starting in autumn 2023. Her commitment is to end with the departure of artistic director Andreas Homoki (61), who is leaving the Zurich Opera House at his own request in the summer of 2025. It is only the second time that a woman has been at the helm of the Zurich Ballet. “It’s an important step,” said Marston. “When I was 18 years old, my choreography teacher at the time said to me: Cathy, your work is important because there are too few female voices in this job.” It is nice to see that slowly but surely something is changing. «And I am happy to be part of this change. I also always try to promote women artists. “
Marston looks forward to international collaboration
Unlike the Zurich ex-ballet boss Heinz Spoerli (80) (Blick reported), Marston is not worried about the future of dance. «During Corona we saw how dancing connects people all over the world. We can also reach audiences outside the theater via the Internet. ” She is also looking forward to working with many colleagues from abroad during her future commitment. “I’m coming to Zurich – but I’m an artist of the world.”
Marston, who was ballet director at the Konzert Theater Bern from 2007 to 2013, lives with her husband and their two children in a house in Bern. For her future job, she will find a small apartment in Zurich, but will also commute regularly. “That’s not a problem for me, I love working on my pieces on the train,” says the choreographer, who is a big fan of literature. She is mainly inspired by books and biographies for her productions. «My style is more naturalistic. I try to work with the dancers as actors and to carry their emotions from the inside out. ” Her training as a life coach helps Marston with this. «I seldom lose my patience. At most my two children can get me to be loud, ”she says and laughs.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the audience in Zurich again”
With her commitment as the Zurich ballet director, Cathy Marston closes not only a professional but also a personal circle. “It’s wonderful to meet my friends in Zurich again, who I’ve had here for 20 years. And I’m looking forward to getting to know the company, the staff in the opera house and the audience in Zurich again. “