Zurich English-Speaking Theatre (ZEST) - Your Community for English Theatre in Zurich
Three women with concerned expressions are in a humorously dramatic scene set in a salon, featuring retro hairstyles and attire. The backdrop is a simple yellow and blue interior.
Four women in colorful dresses appear in a dramatic scene, one seated and emotional, holding a tissue. The setting suggests a theatrical performance.
A man and woman in historical costumes perform onstage. The man looks tense, seated with urgency, while the woman expresses concern. Dark backdrop enhances drama.
Three women with concerned expressions are in a humorously dramatic scene set in a salon, featuring retro hairstyles and attire. The backdrop is a simple yellow and blue interior.
Crafting Stories Since 1954.
Upcoming Auditions
Upcoming Regular Events
Monday
July 13, 2026
17:30
Monday Reading
The Humans by Stephen Karam
St. Andrew's Community Centre
Three generations of the working-class Blake family assemble for Thanksgiving dinner at the dilapidated Manhattan apartment of their youngest daughter and her boyfriend. As the evening progresses in real time, family small talk and holiday bickering gradually give way to deep-seated financial anxieties, health struggles, and personal secrets. The Humans operates as a realistic family drama layered with an unsettling, eerie atmosphere as the physical noises of the building mirror the emotional unraveling of the characters. The production opened Off-Broadway in 2015 before transferring to Broadway in 2016, where it won four Tony Awards, including Best Play, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Monday
July 20, 2026
17:30
Monday Reading
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
St. Andrew's Community Centre
Set in ancient Greece during the war between the Athenians and the Spartans, Lysistrata, tired of watching the men fight while everyone else suffers, gathers women from across the country to launch a bold, outrageous plan to force the men to make peace. What follows is a fast-paced comedy full of awkward situations and clever arguments as the battle of the sexes becomes just as dramatic as the war itself. The play is a funny satire about power, peace, and what people will do to get what they want.
Monday
August 17, 2026
17:30
Monday Reading
War of the Worlds by Jeff Wayne & HG Wells
St. Andrew's Community Centre
Based on H.G. Wells’ classic 1898 science fiction novel, this progressive rock opera frames the Martian invasion of Earth through the eyes of a Victorian journalist. As ruthless aliens lay waste to England with devastating heat rays and giant tripod fighting machines, the journalist fights to survive and reunite with his missing fiancée.
The project originally debuted as a multi-platinum 1978 concept album featuring the iconic narration of Richard Burton. It evolved into a massive, arena-scale touring production in 2006, blending a live string orchestra and rock band with massive visual spectacles like a 30-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine. The show made its official West End stage premiere with a limited theatrical run at London's Dominion Theatre in 2016 starring Liam Neeson via hologram.
Thursday
August 20, 2026
17:30
Improv
Improv August 2026
St. Andrew's Community Centre
Come and explore the fun of improvisation in a welcoming and supportive environment! Whether you're a seasoned performer or a curious beginner, our Improv Workshops are the perfect, low-pressure way to build confidence, think on your feet, and have a lot of laughs. There's no script, no pressure, and no need to prepare anything: just a friendly group ready to play.
Monday
August 24, 2026
17:30
Monday Reading
A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare
St. Andrew's Community Centre
This classic comedy weaves together four interconnected plots across a single magical night in an enchanted Athenian forest. The story follows four young lovers fleeing into the woods to escape forced marriages, a troupe of amateur actors rehearsing a play, and a royal feud between the fairy King Oberon and Queen Titania. Mischief peaks when the trickster sprite Puck administers a love potion that causes everyone to fall in love with the wrong person, including an amateur actor who has been transformed into a donkey.
Midsummer remains one of Shakespeare's most frequently performed works, celebrated for its exploration of love's absurdity and its festive, dreamlike atmosphere. Major modern landmarks include Peter Brook’s radical 1970 white-box production for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Nicholas Hytner’s immersive 2019 production at the Bridge Theatre in London.
Monday
August 31, 2026
17:30
Monday Reading
Jekyll & Hyde by Leslie Bricusse & Frank Wildhorn
St. Andrew's Community Centre
Since its 1990 premiere, this gothic musical has captivated audiences with its exploration of the dual nature of man. Dr. Henry Jekyll’s quest to chemically separate "good" from "evil" backfires, giving birth to the murderous Edward Hyde and terrorizing the streets of Victorian London. It is a sweeping, romantic, and tragic exploration of the monsters we create when we try to play God.
The musical originally premiered at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, in 1990. It made its Broadway debut at the Plymouth Theatre in 1997, where it ran for over 1,500 performances and received four Tony Award nominations.
Thursday
September 3, 2026
17:30
Musical Theatre
TBC
Eglise réformée française - Community Centre
Musical theatre sessions will pick up again after both The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals and RENT are cast and once Farragut North has closed.
Give the Gift of Theatre
Our Passionate Theatre Community
Behind The Scenes Dogfight
Dogfight Choreography Rehearsals
Dogfight Rehearsals
Behind The Scenes Dogfight
Who We Are
Since 1954, ZEST has been a key part of Zurich's English-language theatre scene. Our volunteer-run and self-funded organisation stages two major productions and one smaller production annually, showcasing diverse performances that resonate with audiences. You can support our mission and become a ZEST member by getting involved with our productions or by joining our community at events such as workshops, play readings, and improv nights, all of which foster a passion for the arts.
