Open air theatres
With more than 900,000 visitors, the Lake Thun Festival proves how popular open-air performances are. Performers and scenery compete for the audiences’ attention during the event, which also calls itself Europe’s most beautiful lake stage. Located between Lake Brienz and the big three mountains of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the organisers entertain their guests with international hit musicals, such as Cats, West Side Story or Mamma Mia. The premiers at the Gurten Theatre in Bern, however, are full of local colour. Surrounded by nature, “Dällebach Kari”, “Einstein”, “Der Scharlatan” (the charlatan) and many other productions, are performed in Bernese German and provide unique entertainment.
Plays capturing the Zeitgeist and the past
Visitors to the Gürbetal Summer Theatre experience inspiring contrasts. The modern stage design is embedded in a tuff mine and regularly offers exciting performances. Switzerland’s history is brought to life with the “Wiliam Tell Open-Air Theatre”. Every year in Interlaken, the life of the Swiss folk hero Wilhelm Tell is performed on stage in a new adaptation. But this is not all the region has to offer in summer. Visitors are spoiled for choice with the Landschaftstheater Ballenberg, an open-air theatre established in 1991, and the Freilichtspiele Moosegg whose plays have a close link to the Emmental region.
