“No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre - Performed in English - "Huis Clos" in French
"Hell is other people..." Three strangers trapped together in a "hell" eerily similar to the real world find their stories are intertwined, with each alienating the other yet unable to escape. Passions, animosities, and power struggles soon create explosive tension. GEDS have kindly offered a pair of tickets to one lucky knowitall.ch reader. Read below to enter the competition.
Musings from Director Gary Bird
Jean-Paul Sartre’s play, "No Exit" (French title "Huis Clos") is often claimed to be Sartre’s clearest literary work demonstrating what he meant in "Being and Nothingness" as existentialism. He wrote the play in Paris during the Nazi Occupation, and it premiered on 27 May 1944 only 11 days before D-Day.
Because the play was censored and monitored by the Nazi occupiers, Sartre had to be careful of what he said so as not to set off any "red flags".
Sartre identified with the French Resistance, so any “messages” or themes in his writing had to be subtextual. For example, by setting the play in a mythical place (i.e., Hell) he avoided any charges that might have been brought against him as depicting the Occupation – which he was clearly doing.
Some examples of the Nazi subtext: the "Valet" in reality the closest thing to a jailer; or the elegant "Second Empire" furnishings of the room in Hell (a hell uncannily resembling the real world) alluding to an authoritarian regime that was eventually overthrown.
Photo credit: Lisa Cirieco
Château de Vullierens architecture, magnificent gardens and sculpture park form one of Switzerland’s most remarkable heritage sites with an incomparable 180° degree view of the Alps, Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva. Rising from the foundations of a C13th fortress, Château de Vullierens is considered the purest example of early C18 architecture in the country. The 100-acre estate has remained in the same family for 700 years. It is visited by hundreds of local and international garden enthusiasts and art lovers.
The flowering season starts with tulips, followed by rhododendrons, bluebells, peonies, irises, roses, day lilies, herbaceous borders, hydrangeas, and concludes with the autumn plant collection.
The iris collection - started in 1955 - is considered one of the most modern in Europe. It features recent award winning American hybrids, including several rare re-flowering varieties. An incomparable 4-acre coloured mosaic is created by 400,000 flowers at the height of the season. Themed gardens provide additional delight, offering a varied selection of designs and vistas. The famous ‘large trees collection’ includes Sequoia, Oaks and possibly the oldest Tulip tree in Switzerland.
The sculpture park features over 80 large contemporary works by 25 Swiss and international artists - Davide Rivalta, Beverly Pepper, Alan Jones, Gillian White, Laura Ford, Dorothy Cross, Christian Lapie, Etienne Krahenbuhl, Manuel Torres, Pol Quadrens, Manuel Carbonnel, Mireille Fulpius, Carles Valverde, Herbert Mehler, Werner Pokorny, among others.
Vullierens' 6-acre vineyard features Chasselas, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Gamaret, Garanoir, and Galotta.
We caught up with Beverley Webster, Vice-Chair at Geneva's The Library in English. She told us,"I have been working at the Library for around 20 years! I first joined as a member in 1989, then as my daughter grew up and I had more time, I started working as a desk volunteer. From there I progressed to the Library Committee and am currently its Vice-Chair." The Library in English is kindly offering one lucky knowitall reader a full family membership for one year (a Fr. 175.- value). Read below to find out how to enter our competition.
The Library was started in the early 1930s by a group of volunteers for the parishioners of the American Church. It has changed in many ways but it is still run almost entirely by volunteers and its members now come from more than 50 countries around the world, joined together by their desire to read in English. From its small beginning we now have over 10,000 books on the shelves, but the Library still maintains its original charm. The Library now buy books throughout the year and has a wide collection of adult best sellers, fiction, non-fiction and a wonderful children's section starting with board books and ending with young adult books via easy readers, picture books, fairy tales, and comic books. The Library is a non-profit making organization.
What is the biggest obstacle The Library in English has had to overcome?
Like most other institutions we have of course suffered through the Covid outbreak. The Library was forced to close a few times, then when we did open it was with reduced help and with reduced opening hours. But probably the worst was not being able to hold our twice yearly Book Sales. These provide the Library with more than half its income, and although we did receive aid from the Etat de Geneve, it was, and still is, a very worrying time. Thankfully our members realised we were struggling and helped with their generous donations.
The Library in English future plans
Our main plan is to update our computer system with a view to putting our catalogue on line to give members wider and easier access to our services. We also hope to re-start our children's story time readings and we have just begun to open on Wednesday mornings to accommodate more children on their day off school.
The term "accrobranche" refers to an activity of climbing in the trees. "Accro" is French for "hang" as in "hook" and in this context is hanging or hooked onto a branch. Obviously for safety reasons, the activity consists of a series of steel cables (rather than branches) and carabiner hooks that are shackled to a harness.
Safety instructions are indicated verbally to each person by a qualified monitor in an initiation area before they go up in the circuit.
The two safety carabiners (hooks) are said to be "smart" and will prevent unintentional detachment. When moving, they must be hooked and unhooked one after the other on the continuous steel lifeline; only one of the two connectors can be detached at a time.
In addition, both carabiners must be hooked in such a way that the openings of the carabiners are in the same direction, pointing outwards.
If you haven't yet visited the fantastic park at Signal de Bougy, then wait no longer. In fact, they are even putting up a great Family Package prize for a competition. Read on to find out how to enter.
Signal de Bougy was inaugurated in 1971 and is now part of the Pour-cent culturel Migros, the social commitment branch of the Migros Group. For over 50 years, activities in the park have multiplied, but the approach of the visitors has not changed. Days spent in the park are memorable. This timeless site, in the broadest sense of the term, represents several generations who are now bringing their children to enjoy a day out.
We caught up with Sylvie Hofstetter, who is in charge of marketing and communications, to find out what this new season brings.
What new features are being proposed for the 2022 season?
- Jeu d'Énigmes: this new puzzle game is paired with an App and translated into English. The next one can be loaded on 9 April 2022. All you need is a smartphone or tablet with the Enigmatix application installed via the QR code from the website. A virtual companion will accompany you throughout the game and will give you clues when you need them, so don't worry, you will always be able to find your way. The game is free and available in French or English!
- New workshops have been organized, in particular Urban'Mix.
- Creative workshops.
- Yoga and zumba classes for children.
- A surprise in the Kid'z land is programmed for July but I can't say more... surprise, surprise!
- We are enthusiastic about the return of 4 shows in July and August that can be reserved online for CHF 10.-/seat.
- The Halloween mini disco on 6 November 2022 is a great deal for CHF 10.-/entrance and includes a drink.
