Swiss Theatre Days aim to boost national touring and public engagement

The 13th Swiss Theatre Days (JTS) have arrived in the canton of Vaud, marking the first time the event is held in this French-speaking region. This year's festival showcases seven of the past year's most acclaimed theatrical productions, complete with surtitles, and convenes programmers from across the country.

The JTS, which originated in Winterthur in 2014, has a long-standing mission: to bridge the "Rösti barrier" and the Gotthard Tunnel, fostering a national appreciation for theater as an art form that relies on spoken word. Previous iterations have taken place in various Swiss cities and cantons, including Geneva, Valais, Fribourg, Zurich, Ticino, and central Switzerland.

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The shows that tour all over our country are always too rare. The Swiss Theatre Days are here to change that.

Beyond its role in professional networking and artistic exchange, the JTS also aims to be a vibrant public festival. Julie Paucker, the event's director, enthusiastically encouraged attendance, highlighting the rarity of productions from Zurich's Schauspielhaus being performed in French-speaking Switzerland. She specifically recommended "Hekabe," describing it as a magnificent creation that addresses the sacrifices of women in war.

From the French-speaking Swiss theater scene, the JTS program includes "Jacqueline" and "Ceramic Circus" at the Théâtre Benno Besson, as well as François Gremaud's new creation, "Mon frère," at Vidy-Lausanne. These selections underscore the festival's commitment to presenting diverse and compelling theatrical works from different linguistic regions of Switzerland.

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It's not every day that a show from the Schauspielhaus Zurich performs in French-speaking Switzerland. This Friday, I encourage everyone to come see Hekabe at Vidy-Lausanne. It's a magnificent creation that speaks of women sacrificed on the altar of war.