Die Mobiliar Turns 200yrs; Bringing a Beloved Character to Life

This February, the Swiss Insurance giant Die Mobiliar celebrated 200 years as Switzerland’s largest insurance provider, and I was thrilled to be invited as the main character and clown in the festivities at the historic theater Stadttheater Būhnen Bern in Bern, Switzerland!

Holding the Arc

People often ask Me what it takes to play a lead role in a production of this magnitude.

The work begins long before the curtain rises. I spent a year searching for a solid comic foundation with the creative team. Once in the studio, the work dives into a mix of comic improvisation, theatrical refinement, reflection, and discussion to tease out the essence and core ideas into a reality that resembles the director’s creative vision. After the doors finally open to the audience, the comic keys lie in the craft of connection, interacting with the audience before the show to create a sense of wonder and anticipation, and beginning to let them know that they are invited to laugh, play and dream. Establishing trust early allows the character to travel further once the story begins.

From there, my work as a Clown is to blend the world between audience and stage and destroy the invisible 4th wall on stage — reminding them that anything can happen and we are living the same journey together. In a production filled with elaborate lighting, sound design, choreography, and a large ensemble, the central task is simple but demanding: keep the story arc intact without losing comic connection to the audience. The devil is definitely in the details!

This show included world-class circus acts, nationally beloved Swiss singers, spoken-word artists, international dance, flying puppetry, hair-hanging, large-scale choreography, and moments of genuine risk. But spectacle alone doesn’t carry a night. The character must remain human—flawed, vulnerable, and recognizable to the audience.

The arc builds gradually, layering humor with tenderness. By the final moments, the clown’s humble foibles fade away. A flower in hand. A nod of gratitude. A quiet acknowledgment of the journey. Laughter gives way to something softer — a shared recognition of the commonality between performer and audience.

From Comic Strip to Stage Show

I began meeting monthly with the creative production team nearly a year prior to brainstorm ideas, and discuss script, sketches, images, and the accompanying comic soundscapes, there was no time to waste. With only three weeks of in person rehearsals, everything had to be sharp, precise, emotionally clear, and hilarious from the first moments. It’s tricky business translating from swiss german to english, to then comic physicality for the big stage. When you’re anchoring a show of this scale, the responsibility is real and the pressure was on!

Beyond making people laugh, which is already a tall order, the character arc must guide the audience through the story, imagery, spectacle, music, humor, and script without losing the thread. It’s a nuanced work that requires reflection, trust, whole lot of hutzpah and a collective of creative minds.

Rehearsals and performances took place with a cast of more than 20 international circus artists, dancers, actors, and celebrated Swiss performers. The show premiered on February 6 and closed after just three private Gala performances for Mobiliar employees and invited guests.

For decades, Mobiliar’s advertising campaigns have featured these simple sketch drawings of situations and scenarios that leave audiences both gasping with surprise and laughing with delight. The character, constantly makes disastrous mistakes, fumbling through everyday chaos, and somehow survives it all. The ads are widely loved across Switzerland, and are the perfect terrain for Clown comedy and circus. I couldn’t have asked for a better comic pretext for getting belly laughs and having fun!

The idea for the gala was ambitious: tell the story of Mobiliar’s 200-year history through the world of these comic sketches. That meant translating a two-dimensional cartoon into a fully embodied theatrical presence capable of carrying an evening-length production.

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A Collective Effort

While I had the honor of holding the central role, the emotional depth of the production was made possible by more than 50 individuals working on stage and behind the scenes. Designers, technicians, producers, and performers — each contributed to shaping the world of the show.

Deep thanks are due to my friends and colleagues:

Die Mobiliar for their love of the arts and commitment to excellence!
Nadine Imboden Entertainment for the invitation and vision to bring this character to life!
Stadttheater Bern for their glorious theater house!
1291 Productions for a super comfortable rehearsal space!
The entire cast of extraordinary artists for their collective brilliance!
Nadja Sieger for her generous comic support and camaraderie!

Stepping back into the European contemporary theatre network, reconnecting with collaborators, and building new relationships was deeply meaningful. Conversations are already underway about when we will play the show again!!

Two hundred years of history is a long story to tell. It was an honor to help tell it — one fall, one laugh, and one quiet moment of connection at a time.