March OPEN MIC club night

Our Open Mic event had a bit of everything: from springtime and soulful songs to moving monologues and powerful poems.

Thanks to everyone who performed and gave us such an entertaining evening, as well as, to Jarka and Miranda for their excellent organization, and – as always – to Patrick for providing the music and sound effects.

 

 

We Are Merely Players – our first short play festival

The Village Players’ first festival was a huge success, showcasing 3 totally different plays. Our 3 casts played to packed houses for both performances!

Thanks to our wonderful directors:
Tristan Pannatier for “Note to Sixth Grade Self” by Julie Orringer
Alexandra Shelest, ford “The Proposal” by Anton Chekhov
Alessio Siviglia, for “The Breakdown” by F. Dürrenmatt

And to their amazing casts, as well as the crews and everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes

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Announcing Our Spring Production: The Crucible

Performance Dates: 15th – 18th May 2025
Venue: CPO, Lausanne
Tickets: available early spring

This spring, the Village Players are proud to present Arthur Miller’s timeless and searing drama, The Crucible, under the inspired direction of Béatrice Muntean and Can Cebeci.

Set against the harrowing backdrop of the Salem witch trials of 1692, The Crucible is a masterful exploration of mass hysteria, moral reckoning, and the destructive power of fear. The story begins in a tightly controlled Puritan society, where whispers of witchcraft arise after a group of young girls is caught dancing in the forest. As panic spreads and suspicion mounts, accusations of witchcraft snowball into a frenzy that engulfs the entire town.

At the heart of the story is Abigail Williams, a young woman whose cunning manipulations and personal vendettas ignite chaos. Her past affair with John Proctor—a man striving to rebuild his integrity and protect his family—sets off a chain reaction of betrayal, false accusations, and devastating consequences. What unfolds is not just a courtroom drama but a powerful examination of human behavior under the pressures of fear, envy, and ambition.

Written during the height of McCarthyism in 1950s America, Miller’s play is a poignant allegory of the anti-communist “witch hunts” of his own time. Its themes of paranoia, societal division, and the courage to stand for the truth remain profoundly relevant, making The Crucible a compelling theatrical experience.

Whether you’re passionate about performing or eager to experience this classic tale as an audience member, don’t miss this chance to dive into the gripping world of The Crucible. Save the dates, and join us for a theatrical event that will leave you reflecting long after the curtain falls.

Let’s organise unforgettable Clubnights together—With Your Ideas!

Are you bursting with creative ideas for a fun, engaging evening of theater? Now’s your chance to bring those ideas to life at one of our Village Players Clubnights!

We’re calling on all members to suggest and organise these exciting, informal events. Whether you’re thinking of a staged reading, a trivia night, improv games, or something totally unique, Clubnights are a great opportunity to explore new formats, showcase talent, and have fun with our theater-loving community.

No experience needed! Whether you want to lead the charge or collaborate with others, our team is here to help make your vision a reality.
Let’s work together to create evenings full of laughter, creativity, and connection.

Apply now – fill out our form! This is your moment to shine. Step up and organise a Clubnight that’s all your own!

For more info, you can also contact us at clubnight@villageplayers.ch . We can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with!

Calling All Aspiring Directors!

Are you passionate about theater and looking to bring your creative vision to life? We are seeking new directors to lead future productions and help shape the next chapter of our community theater.

Whether you’re an experienced director or someone ready to take on the challenge for the first time, The Village Players is the perfect stage to unleash your imagination and talent. We offer a supportive and collaborative environment where your ideas can thrive, and you’ll have the opportunity to direct plays that captivate and inspire audiences.

Join us in creating unforgettable performances and be part of a theater community that values creativity, inclusivity, and artistic growth. Your vision can help bring stories to life!

Apply now and fill out our form to direct with The Village Players and help us continue our tradition of excellence in community theater.

For more information or to express your interest, you can also contact us at info@villageplayers.ch.

The Glass Menagerie… Whow!

Village Players proudly present their spring production: THE GLASS MENAGERIE – by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Hannah Sellers

May 16th, 17th, 18th at 8.00pm, May 19th at 5.00pm 
Centre Pluriculturel et Social d’Ouchy (CPO), Beau Rivage 2, 1006 Lausanne

Creativity and passion is what you find at the current rehearsals of Tennessee Williams’ acclaimed memory play, The Glass Menagerie.
Highly experienced actors are working hard to bring this play to light and the chemistry between the actors is already strikingly evident.

Add music selections, detailed props, dusky lights, and a dream-like set, and you have much to look forward to. Perhaps most surprisingly, is the laughter you’ll find in the same moment as desperately wanting to save the characters from themselves. Such is this tragicomedy of the American dream in this iconic tale.

Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, individuals clung onto hope and continued to dream of better times ahead. Personal fulfilment, adventure and self-expression were longed for. And though the backdrop is the 1930s, there is something timeless in each person’s deep desire to be loved and find greatness beyond their present circumstances.

CLICK HERE to listen to the interview with the director Hannah Sellers on World Radio Switzerland!

 

 

Photo credits, with permission of Davide Bella.

March Clubnight

FROM THE AUDIENCE – “SAY IT AS IT IS”

11 readers volunteered to, first of all, read a text or poem that they had chosen. We had an interesting variety, including a 2-person sketch played by 1 person. Our readers were then asked to choose a random text provided by Barbara Balbo and Mike Scott and present it with barely any preparation. And, as if that wasn’t hard enough, they were then asked to read the same text but with a different presentation style e.g. as a child, as a gossip, naïvely, with authority….

Well done to all our readers who were extremely versatile and entertaining and thanks to Barbara and Mike for organizing this very original event.

 

  

FROM THE AUDIENCE – AN INSPECTOR CALLS:

Thank you to everyone who was involved in thisProduction: on stage,
behind the scenes, publicity, sound and light, ticketing and front of house,
website development and more.
We had two full houses and two other extremely well-attended performances.

The audience feedback was generally excellent. Here are some of the quotes received:

  • “A must see, excellent performance and so interesting. Congrats to all involved.>”
  • “This is really great theatre. Congratulations to all involved.”
  • “Another fabulous show from The Village Players of Lausanne! Congratulations to all involved. You kept me and my 14 year old son gripped to the end!”
  • “We thoroughly enjoyed the play. I think it is a very challenging piece and all of the cast handled it extremely well. So please pass on our congratulations to the cast and director for an entertaining Sunday evening.”
  • “A must-see, immersive theatrical experience. Bravo to all involved!”
  • “Excellent show! Thank you all!”
  • “Fabulous! Really enjoyed it on Thursday. Great cast!”
  • “Was brilliant! Loved it!”
  • “Amazing show!”
  • “A fabulous production!”