«Z Bümpliz invites Ändi Oktober d Bärner loversbüni to our schampbar chöschtleche Komedi y. It will be fun for young Schnuufer and old friends and men. » This is roughly what it would sound like if advertising for the new piece by the Berner enthusiast stage was advertised in Berne German. On October 24th the play “Proscht Nägeli” starts in the Sternensaal in Bümpliz – and the amateur theater group desperately needs advertising.
Fear about the future
“We have had a deficit for about five years. “It won’t go on like this for much longer,” says Urs Schwarz, board member and actor of the Berner amateur stage. There’s a lot at stake with this year’s production. “If we don’t come out financially this year, we don’t know how or whether we can tackle next year.”
The Bernese amateur stage can look back on a long history. The group dates back to the 1950s. In 1952 the Mercuria Novia theater group was founded, from which the Berner enthusiast stage emerged six years later. At that time the main events were charity events and theater evenings for clubs; In 1996, a separate performance was performed for the first time in Bümpliz Castle. The group has been playing in the Sternensaal in Bümpliz since 1998.
Over time you had to adapt, as Urs Schwarz explains. «What we staged has changed. Originally these were the good old Bernese classics like ‘Ueli the Knecht’ or ‘Anne Bäbi Jowager’.” But these pieces have been seen slowly – and the audience that knows and appreciates the pieces is slowly dying out. In order to appeal to a broader audience, the Berner enthusiast stage had to reorient itself and include more modern pieces in the repertoire. This change process has been going on for several years now.
What are the reasons for the declining interest?
However, this program change has not yet financially rehabilitated the amateur theater group – they are still struggling with a significant decline in audience numbers. “We used to have peaks of up to 1,600 spectators, today we should have half that and we haven’t achieved that in the last four years,” says Urs Schwarz.
The amateur actor sees reasons for this, among other things, in the oversupply of events and the changing demographics in Bümpliz. “It will take more time until we have enough of an audience again to get into the round. Maybe the direction of the theater isn’t perfect yet.”
A declaration of love for Bernese German
Something that has remained the same at the Berner enthusiast stage over the years is the love of Bernese German. This is also deeply anchored: “The purpose of the association is still to keep the good old Bernese language alive, to maintain and to convey it through the theater. “It’s the same today as it was 70 years ago,” explains the board member.
The aim is not to close oneself to progress, but to emphasize the beauty of this language. «This original language is “casual” and has so much to love. If you can convey that through a play, that’s really, really great. That’s what drives us,” enthuses Urs Schwarz.
When asked whether one is asked about the meaning of old-fashioned Bernese German words after performances, the amateur actor answers in the affirmative: “To be honest, that also happens to us when we are working on a piece. We also have young people among us who don’t even know many terms. We then have to look it up in the Bernese German dictionary.”
Not professionals, but with a lot of heart
The Berner Enthusiasts Stage is set up as an amateur theater. In the past, actors were still paid fees. “That hasn’t been possible for a few years now,” says Urs Schwarz. He himself has been there for six years. With hall rent, advertising costs, costumes and stage design, the budget is between 15,000 and 20,000 francs. “You have to make up for that first,” says Schwarz. However, the entrance fee of 30 francs has not been increased: “It is important to us that everyone can afford to visit us.”
The status as an amateur theater is particularly important to Urs Schwarz: “We are an amateur theater and want to stay that way – but with a certain quality. We are not as professional as productions that do nothing else all year round, but with us you can also feel the heart on stage. And I think it’s worth supporting.”
This piece is intended to save the group
The club is putting a lot of hope into the new piece this season. The comedy “Proscht Nägeli”, also known as “Rent a Family” or from the film “Aunt Jutta from Calcutta” will be performed. Urs Schweizer plays the eponymous Thomas Nägeli.
Thomas Nägeli lives a lavish lifestyle, which he cannot finance with his income as a public defender. However, his rich aunt from India regularly sends Nägeli money for himself and his – fictitious – family. Suddenly his aunt appears at his door. “It has a lot of humor, lots of punch lines and great characters. It’s definitely worth a visit,” enthuses the Nägeli actor.
There will be 6 performances between October 24th and November 3rd, all in the Sternensaal of the Sternen restaurant in Bümpliz. Further information and tickets are available at Website of the Berner Enthusiasts Stage.
