Are you, or do you know, a director with a flair for storytelling on stage? The Village Players of Lausanne are seeking experienced directors to present their vision to Lausanne audiences!
If you have a play in mind, they invite you to submit it for consideration for the 2024 season. Email the VPI committee and briefly share your experience and an overview of the play you have in mind.
Not a director? But have a play you’d like to see on the VPI stage? Drop them a line with your recommendation.
About The Village Players of Lausanne
The Village Players was founded on 11 November 1981 in La Conversion by a group of enthusiasts of English language theatre led by Zelda and John McKillop. The group’s first event was a theatre workshop held in December 1981 and the first “production” was a play reading of “Lovers” by Brian Friel in February 1982.
The society’s first full-length production was “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder, staged in Lutry in May 1982. The society was formally established with a written Constitution in June 1982.
Since that start The Village Players have produced a wide range of shows in various theaters and halls in and around Lausanne and elsewhere in Europe.
An Inspector Calls
Currently the VPs have staged over 100 productions in front of paying audiences – including 17 Old Time Music Halls and 11 English-language theater festivals, not only in Switzerland but also in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany. Since 1988 the troupe have widened their venues to include Bern, Morges, Lausanne, Vevey, Corseaux, Lonay, Pully, Geneva, Meyrin, and numerous other venues participating in festivals. Participation in these festivals has resulted in the awards being gained for Best Presentation, Original Script, and a Discretionary Award for an actress with a non-speaking role!
The Village Players have organized poetry, Karaoke, musical comedy, quizzes, evenings of nonsense, of erotica, of specific themes (e.g. Burns Night, St. George’s Day, etc.), as well as playreading and theater.
The VPs started producing shows at the CPO-Centre Paroissial d’Ouchy in May 1992 and since 2011 has almost exclusively used this venue for stage productions. Now called the CPO-Centre Pluriculturel et social d’Ouchy, it has been “home” for all The Village Players activities since September 2014.
Upcoming events:
October 2023
Clubnight: RASP - Read A Surprise Play
19.10.2023
19:30 - 21:30
Clubnights are a great way to find out about the group as entrance is free and open to everybody. Advantages include meeting people, especially English-speaking thespians. Those who do not fancy appearing on stage are welcome too. It's a great social atmosphere and there's plenty to do off stage: set design, costumes, make-up, etc. Self-confidence is boosted, such as speaking to a room full of people in a professinal context. Non-native English speakers are welcome to participate.
November 2023
An Inspector Calls – written by J.B. Priestley, directed by Ilona Horvath
16.11.2023 - 18.11.2023 @ 20h-22h
19.11.2023 @ 17h-19h
The play is a three-act drama, which takes place on a single night: 5 April 1912. It focuses on the prosperous upper middle-class Birling family, who live in a comfortable home in the fictional town of Brumley. The family is visited by a man calling himself Inspector Goole, who questions them about the suicide of a young working-class woman in her mid-twenties. A great classic still relevant to today’s society.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: 2024 Director Submission
Deadline: end of October 2023 for Spring 2024 production, rolling basis for Winter production!
