GAOS' traditional pantomime, Aladdin by Tom Whalley, is just around the corner and our readers have the chance to win a double ticket for the 12 December 2024, 19h30, show in Nyon. Tickets are selling out fast. With only 7 days (9 shows), you don't want to be disappointed!
Abanazar, an evil magician, has discovered the secret to becoming Master of the Universe. All he needs is an enchanted oil lamp hidden away for many years in a lost cave of treasures but only the 'chosen one' is allowed to set foot inside.
Meanwhile in the distant land of Marrakech, young Aladdin lives with his brother Wishee Washee and his man-hungry mother, Widow Twankey. Aladdin dreams of marrying the beautiful Princess Jasmine but a penniless laundry boy could never hope to have the love of a royal but...could he be the chosen one?
THE MURDER OF ROSE ASHCROFT, is a classic murder mystery play and a comedy, set on the 8th of May 1945 – VE Day - at the Oyster Bay Hotel in fictitious Hastebourne. A group of strangers are staying at a quaint little hotel on the even of celebrations, for more or less decent reasons. By the end of the first act, we know who they are and why all of them have a motive. And yet, when one of them dies, we need the second act to find out whodunnit. Or else risk further untimely deaths. Come join an evening of laughter, suspense, and drama.
We asked Village Players to give us some details below... and make sure to enter our competition at the end of the article to win a pair of tickets!
Why it was this play chosen?
We are always looking to support original theatrical works, so we were pleased to give the local author, Ilona Horvath, the opportunity to bring her comedy to life. We also, wanted to a show during the winter time that could bring joy to both the audience and those involved. So, we are thrilled to have quite a diverse cast in terms of age, geographic background, and experience in the theater, all having a fun time bringing the show together, and we hope audiences will equally enjoy themselves and laugh along. It's quite a creative endeavor that takes the elements of pantomime in terms of dramatic asides to the audience and exaggeration in the comedy, and conveys them in a way that the audience doesn't need to be familiar with pantomime to delight in the theatrics.
Since 2016, The Swiss English-language Scrabble Association (SESA) has been hosting regular dates for those you love word games and love cracking anagrams. You can read previous articles here and here. Was Scrabble® a board game you haven’t had the chance to play much? Are you looking for a fun way to improve your English while meeting new people? The Swiss English-language Scrabble Association (SESA) invites you to come and play. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned Scrabble® enthusiast, SESA offers a thriving community where you can enjoy casual and competitive games.
Founded in 2016 in Geneva, SESA is continuously growing and now has members all across Switzerland. It is led by its dynamic founder and current president, Aurea Fagel and her incredible team: Sophie Lemaitre, David Underhill, Marilyn de Guzman, Drew Meek and Chris Baball. The group meets every Tuesday at 19h at Maison Asters-Servette in Geneva. And during the summer, they take the fun outdoors with picnic Scrabble® & Molkky sessions in the sun!
Kids love getting messy and here is a place where they are enabled to express themselves. There is a certain freedom that they won't be able to find elsewhere. We caught up with Giorgina Brown, coordinator for the L’Atelier d’Aventures Créatives (LAAC).
What has been the inspiration for the LAAC?
Creative expression and imaginative play can serve as powerful tools for personal growth, helping children gain autonomy and self-confidence. L’Atelier d’Aventures Créatives (LAAC) aims to provide a space for children to explore, create, as connect with their peers, fostering creativity and social bonds in an informal and nurturing environment.
Have you been working on this idea forever?
The LAAC has been offering creative expression workshops for 20 years, welcoming children aged 4 to 12 during school holidays. It is a project of the Association pour l’Atelier, a non-profit organization that supports artistic initiatives to promote personal development and social connections.
Since 2023, we have also been offering creative workshops for teenagers aged 13 to 16. I have been involved in the project since 2022. After studying philosophy, working as a social researcher, teaching, and being a mum, I realized that “creative living is always more important for the individual than doing well”, as Donald Winnicott so nicely put it. This led me to study Expressive Arts Therapy at L’Atelier in Geneva.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Since COVID, it has been more challenging to reach full enrolment for our creative weeks. Children who attend often return, which is a positive sign. For example, five out of six children enrolled in this month’s holiday week have participated in several of our previous sessions! However, we still need to reach more parents who may be interested. Thank you, Lisa, for giving me the opportunity to connect with your readers!
Photo credit: Alexandra Shelest
Family secrets, forbidden desires... and ghosts. Ibsen's Ghosts are no spectral hauntings but absent people, events long buried, and conventions that shape us and our lives, whether we know it or not.
Why Ibsen? Why now?
Ghosts premiered in 1882, but the play's themes are still very relevant in today’s world.
First is the question of determinism versus free will. As we get older, we perceive that events often unfold because of past antecedents. Antecedents which may be unknown to us or may date back generations. How often do we have regrets and wonder, “Why did I do that?”, commenting on behaviors which we don’t recognize in ourselves.
It's cognitive dissonance, and with our ability to map genetic codes, new questions have arisen about the extent of deterministic behavior. Even trauma is now known to leave a genetic imprint. Yet, we know little about our pasts. All that we know of our parents' and grandparents' lives are what they tell us.
And who knows what they left out? Who knows how this genetic baggage with all its secrets influences our behavior? Does this mean we are condemned to repeat the past or to endure its impact?
Hence, the title of the play - "Gengangere", the original Danish title, meaning both "ones who return" and "events which repeat themselves".
