Swiss Theater’s Hilarious Reinvention of Musical Comedy
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The Barnabé café-theater in servion, Switzerland, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a unique twist on musical comedy. Founded in 1980 by Jean-Claude Pasche, known as Barnabé (1940-2020), the theater has undergone a change as 2018 under the direction of Noam Perakis adn Céline Rey.
Barnabé,a renowned revue enthusiast,would have been proud of the theater’s evolution. While the theater initially focused on revues, Perakis and Rey have embraced a new direction, incorporating the energy and style of Anglo-Saxon musicals. This shift reflects Barnabé’s own passion for the genre, as he frequently traveled between London and New York to witness the latest productions.
“We worked a lot with Barnabé,” recalls Céline Rey, referencing a December 27th interview. “He participated in shows of our company, the Broadway company. I directed him vocally too, as I do the vocal direction of the company’s shows. He was a lover of the text. personally, he taught me a lot about prosody, that is to say the text set to music.”
A Stage with Substantial Resources
The Barnabé theater boasts impressive resources. With an annual budget of three million Swiss francs,the theater features its own orchestra,a set workshop adjacent to the stage,and a costume-making workshop housing over 10,000 pieces.“The theater is a fantastic tool because it was developed to produce great shows, mainly revues,” explains Noam Perakis.“We are one of the rare theaters in French-speaking Switzerland, if not the only one, to own a turntable for example, that is to say a stage which allows objects, people and decorations to rotate.”
This notable investment has paid off. The theater’s shift to musical comedy has proven remarkably successful. “The heart of our artistic line is to make a sort of musical comedy hub,” Perakis notes. “We started in 2019, where we produced the musical ‘Sister Act,’ which was a huge hit. We said to ourselves that we had was vrey lucky.But the following year, we had an even bigger success with the musical ‘Hollywood’ and so on.The artists are very talented in French-speaking Switzerland. It often surprises the public to know that these professional musical theater artists come from here.”
“Robin Hood,Lame Comedy”: A Hilarious Mishap
The theater’s current production,”Robin Hood,Lame comedy,” is a unique take on the classic tale. It’s inspired by the British “goes wrong” comedy tradition. “It’s an English tradition,” explains Perakis. “These are shows that come from a company that made ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’, or the play that goes wrong.But they also created ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’, ‘Magic Goes Wrong’ and so on. Each time, during the show, nothing is going to happen as planned. It’s disaster after disaster and it’s hilarious. We said, ‘why don’t you take this code from goes wrong and make it a musical with all the ingredients we love in Anglo-Saxon musicals?'”
The unexpected comedic approach has resonated with audiences. “I think that part of our audience has seen the poster,” Perakis observes.”But we also have an audience that regularly comes to the Barnabé theater nonetheless of the production, our first fans. and indeed, this audience is not expecting this messed up musical comedy. They are very surprised by the first ‘messups’ and even more seduced afterwards.”
“Robin Hood, Lame Comedy” runs at the Barnabé café-theater in Servion until February 23, 2025.
A Swiss twist on Musical Comedy: Q&A with Theater Expert Beatrice Dubois
The Barnabé café-theater in Servion, Switzerland, is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a unique and hilarious stage production. Founded in 1980 by Jean-Claude Pasche, known as Barnabé, the theater has evolved under the direction of Noam Perakis and Céline Rey, infusing classic revues with the energy of Anglo-Saxon musicals. we sat down with Beatrice Dubois, a leading expert on Swiss theatrical history, to discuss this exciting shift.
From Revues to “Goes Wrong” Comedy: A New Era for Barnabé
Senior Editor: Beatrice, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about the barnabé café-theater and its history?
Beatrice Dubois: It’s my pleasure. The Barnabé has a long and distinguished history in Switzerland’s theater scene. founded by the beloved Barnabé, it was initially known for its captivating revues.These performances were full of wit, music, and social commentary, a true reflection of Swiss culture.
Senior Editor: How has the theater transformed under the leadership of Noam Perakis and Céline Rey?
Beatrice Dubois: Noam and Céline have brought a refreshing new energy while honoring Barnabé’s legacy. They’ve embraced the dynamism of Anglo-Saxon musicals, incorporating catchy tunes, elaborate choreography, and engaging narratives into their productions.
Behind the Scenes: Operating a Theater with Vision
Senior Editor: What makes the Barnabé unique in terms of its resources and capabilities?
Beatrice Dubois: The theater boasts extraordinary resources, including its own orchestra, workshops for set and costume design, and an extensive costume collection. This allows them to create high-quality productions with a level of detail and artistry that is truly remarkable.
They even have a rotating stage, a rarity in French-speaking Switzerland, wich adds an extra dimension to their performances.
“Robin Hood, Lame Comedy”: A Hilarious Mishap
Senior Editor: Their current production, “Robin Hood, Lame Comedy,” sounds like a departure from traditional musicals. Can you tell us more about it?
Beatrice Dubois: It’s a brilliant take on the classic story, inspired by the “goes wrong” genre popularized in the UK. Imagine a Robin Hood adventure where everything that can go wrong, does! The result is a hilarious, unpredictable comedy that’s sure to delight audiences.
Senior editor: What kind of response have they gotten to this unique approach?
Beatrice Dubois: It’s been tremendously successful! Audiences are captivated by the unexpected humor and the sheer creativity on display.It’s a testament to Perakis and Rey’s vision and the talent of the Barnabé team.
