Plays, music, literature, and dance – the artistic range of the Zuoz Globe at the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz is diverse and sophisticated. Thanks to its 100 seat capacity of 100 seats as well as its modern lighting and sound technologies, the theatre is the ideal, intimate venue to enjoy creative performances. The diverse programme of the Zuoz Globe provides much more than cultural highlights throughout the year. It also promotes exchanges between the Lyceum Alpinum and the local Engadine community. In December 2021, the theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” performed by the Shakespeare Company student group.
10th Anniversary Highlights
10 years of Zuoz Globe – this is cause for celebration. As was the case 10 years ago, a special guest of honour will once again take centre stage during the anniversary celebrations: William Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Company theatre group, made up of students of the Lyceum Alpinum, has reinterpreted Shakespeare’s classic “Julius Caesar” for this special occasion and is performing the play for the first time at the Zuoz Globe on 10 December at 8 pm. Additional performances are planned for 13 and 14 December, also at 8 pm. On Saturday, 11 December, a theatre festival will take place celebrating the anniversary from 1.30 pm onwards. The multi-faceted programme entails a panel discussion on the topic of “Youth Theatre”, two plays, and an Apéro Riche for all guests to celebrate and mingle.
From a School Theatre to a Cultural Highlight of the Engadine
When the Zuoz Globe opened in December 2011, a theatre dream came true. The theatre not only impresses with its unique architecture, but has also delighted its visitors with first-class theatre experiences right from the start. Initially, the main focus was on school theatre. In 2014/2015, the theatre’s director Ivo Bärtsch launched a year-round programme, thus transforming the Zuoz Globe into a regional cultural meeting place that can be visited all year.
Today, the theatre not only offers professional productions performed by school theatre groups, but also regularly welcomes national and international artists.
Shakespeare is a regular feature at the Zuoz Globe. The entrance to the theatre is adorned with the phrase “All the world’s a stage” coined by him. The theatre opened with a performance of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, and now, 10 years later, the Shakespeare Company will present another of his masterpieces, “Julius Caesar”, during the anniversary celebrations in December 2021.
Ever since it was founded in 2006, the Shakespeare Company has devoted itself to the works by the English playwright, the themes of which are both timeless and topical.
Theatre at the Lyceum Alpinum
Acting has a long tradition at the Lyceum Alpinum and is highly valued. The Zuoz Globe is not only meant to continue the theatre tradition of the Engadine village of Zuoz and the Lyceum Alpinum, but also focuses on equipping students with skills which support their personal development. Performing on stage enhances their self-confidence, they learn acting techniques, and overcome their fear of public speaking. Moreover, acting fosters team spirit, teaches empathy, helps in solving problems, and promotes creativity. Jointly staging a play is an experience that not only strengthens each student’s standing in the group, but also his or her personality – and is invariably an act of self-reflection. The Zuoz Globe is a professional environment for students to stage and regularly perform the plays they develop together with the theatre’s director Ivo Bärtsch.
The Shakespeare Company
The Lyceum Alpinum has two theatre groups that regularly perform new plays. The German-speaking Shakespeare Company dedicates itself to various theatre classics, and in particular to plays by William Shakespeare. The first classic play performed by the Shakespeare Company was “Macbeth” in 2006 with others following over the years, such as “Romeo and Juliet”. Each play performed at the Zuoz Globe is reinvented using stylistic devices, such as movement, language, music, and dance. When exploring challenging texts by Shakespeare and other writers and interpreting them in a new, contemporary way, students gain deep insights into the world of theatre – learning team spirit, patience, and courage in the process. Ever since it was founded in 2006, the Shakespeare Company has not only staged Shakespeare classics, such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, but also other theatre classics like “Antigone” and “Parsifal”.
The English Theatre Company
In addition to the Shakespeare Company, the English Theatre Company was established at the Lyceum Alpinum in 2012, giving international students the opportunity to perform on stage. They also present the classics of English literature, reinterpret them, and infuse their personality into famous characters. The English Theatre Company has performed plays, such as “1984”, “The Outsiders”, and “The Frankenstein Project” in recent years. The theatre’s director, Ivo Bärtsch, is responsible for both the English Theatre Company and the Shakespeare Company, as well as other performances at the Zuoz Globe. He has a lot of international experience in theatre and dance, and encourages the theatre groups to focus on such skills as understanding, critical thinking, analysis, commitment, and creativity.
Upcoming Theatre Highlights
In addition to the anniversary programme, the Zuoz Globe will present many other highlights in the months to come. On 12 December, the Basel Youth Theatre is joining in the anniversary celebrations with its rendition of the play “Big Sister”. After a short winter break, performances will resume on 4 and 5 February with “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man”, a short story based on the novel by Fyodor M. Dostoyevsky and read by Sara Francesca Hermann. On 18, 19 and 21 February, the English Theatre Company will present the fascinating play “Extremism” by Anders Lustgarten.
Further plays and concerts are scheduled until the summer. For more information click here.
