Bözberg
This man from Aargau has been on stage for 40 years – where he causes laughs as an author himself
Dieter Gygli presents his latest prank, “De Yeti vom Chrüzmoor”, with the Theater Bözberg on November 9th. The whimsical author tells how he came to playwriting as a metalhead and what antics can be expected from his latest work.
The retired typesetter Dieter Gygli is a committed author, actor and metal fan.
Picture: Enya Peterhans
Dieter “Didi” Gygli has been a member of the Theater Bözberg for a good eight years and has now published two comedies for the theater group as an author. Originally from Aarau, he moved to Brugg with his wife in 1983. There he shaped the work and work in the annual theater of the Jodelquartett Brugg before moving to Würenlingen twenty years ago.
Like so many things in his life, his passion for theater came about across four corners. “At the request of my now wife, I attended my first theater performance in Brugg,” remembers the 66-year-old.
Dieter Gygli, fourth from the right, has been working at the Bözberg Theater for many years.
Image: Ina Wiedenmann
“I enjoyed meeting colleagues at the cinema at the time, but I had nothing to do with theater until that day,” smiles Dieter Gygli. When he was asked to take part in the stage play himself, his answer was clear: “No, I can’t do that at all.” Nevertheless, they were able to convince him – with obvious sustainability.
Relaxation and entertainment are priority
The trained typesetter has been on stage regularly for 40 years. During this time he also discovered directing and comedy writing. “Giving the audience joy with our work is very important to me,” he explains the motivation behind his commitment. For him, his works are a matter of the heart.
Last year, the Bözberg Theater performed “De Simulant,” written by Dieter Gygli (center).
Image: Ina Wiedenmann
For thirty years he worked as a playwright for the Bruges Yodeling Club, which puts on a theater every year, and wrote the play “S Jubilee” specifically for the 100th year of its existence. Gygli’s fifth and newest work is currently in the starting blocks: “De Yeti vom Chrüzmoor” directed by Christa Crausaz.
He has other projects, explains the author, pointing to his smartphone “in here” and on his PC at home. For certain people it is still necessary to solve the problem at the moment: “Sometimes you have a blockage and you just can’t move forward.” Gygli knows from experience that the difficulties often resolve themselves after a while and inspiration will soon flow again.
Once written, numerous further stages await the works, starting with an initial assessment by his wife Monika Gygli and ending with general publication by Breuninger Theaterverlag. But the reason for writing always remains the same for him: he creates entertainment to “give viewers a space to escape,” says Gygli.
“The audience should be able to relax there while forgetting the often unpleasant world events, reality, for two hours.” It should be funny, cheerful, sometimes complex, but never didactic. «People are there to enjoy their time. I can’t give a moral pointer.”
Dieter Gygli particularly enjoys working together in the theater.
Image: Stefanie Niederhäuser
Why he doesn’t see himself as a “tough guy”.
Spontaneity is key for Dieter Gygli: “I couldn’t say how the idea for “De Yeti vom Chrüzmoor” came to me,” he remarks after a long moment of reflection and laughs. Maybe it was a picture of a yeti or an online article that accidentally inspired him to create this work. “As with a conversation, with my pieces I can never say what will come up or happen next,” he explains. The writing process is based on flashes of ideas and, with Gygli’s “sometimes endless imagination,” always comes up with new paths.
The roles he writes for his colleagues are largely tailor-made. Gygli, who plays in all the plays himself, “likes to be a different man” on stage. However, outside of the theater he remains true to himself. «I see no reason to pretend. In the end, everyone is the way they are.” In keeping with this statement, the metal fan appears for the interview with his everyday demeanor in a skull shirt.
On stage, Dieter Gygli (center) likes to take on a different role
Image: Ina Wiedenmann
Despite his appearance, he is by no means a “tough guy”. “More like a particularly soft-hearted one,” he smiles. He developed this quality further, not least in his dealings with his family, which includes two sons and a daughter. Twin son Gilles Gygli has a disability due to a genetic defect. “That of course requires an extra dose of empathy,” says the playwright.
A short-sighted hunter and an inn with no guests
A more accessible apartment that was tailored to the family’s needs was the reason for moving to Würenlingen. Dieter Gygli has been enjoying his retirement there to the fullest for two years. “I’ve wanted to devote myself to painting for a long time, exploring what I can do and what I like,” he says.
But he hasn’t found any time to deal with the many options yet. From August until the premieres in November, he rehearses twice a week with the Bözberg theater group, writes plays, welcomes his son Gilles Gygli at home on weekends and shares household chores with his wife Monika.
Dieter Gygli’s works are always relaxed, full of antics, pranks and humor.
Image: Ina Wiedenmann
Now the work of the last few months should be worth it: On November 9th and the following week from Friday, November 15th to Sunday, November 17th, the annual performance of the Theater Bözberg can be seen in the Chapf gymnasium. According to Gygli, the main theme of the performance is a daring idea – the Yeti from Chrüzmoor – which is supposed to help the innkeeper couple Franz (played by Dieter Gygli) and Vera Dürst (Monika Leuenberger), as a regional sensation, out of their misery with the poorly running Gasthof Rössli.
However, competition quickly arises in the form of a shady character from the red light district who wants to acquire the restaurant for his own purposes. Dieter Gygli promises that it is a “scary” beautiful spectacle that will cause great excitement and lots of laughs.
Seat reservations for the performances can be made by contacting Ruth Flückiger on 056 441 39 72 or ruth.boezberg@gmail.com. Further information about the theater can be found at www.theater-boezberg.ch.
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