Join Our Monday Play Readings
July 13, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
The Humans by Stephen Karam
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.
July 20, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
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.
July 27, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
NO READING - Summer Break
Summer break.
August 3, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
NO READING - Summer Break
Summer break
August 10, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
NO READING - Summer Break
Summer break
August 17, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
War of the Worlds by Jeff Wayne & HG Wells
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.
August 24, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare
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.
August 31, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
Jekyll & Hyde by Leslie Bricusse & Frank Wildhorn
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.
September 28, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
Evening of Short Scenes & Monologues Part III
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October 5, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
Glory Days by James Gardiner
Four high school friends reunite one year after graduation on the bleachers of their former football field. Under the guise of a prank to hack the school’s sprinkler system and get back at old bullies, the young men quickly realize how much their paths and identities have diverged. Through a contemporary pop-rock score, the musical captures the anxieties of late adolescence as the characters confront personal revelations and the shifting reality of their once-unbreakable bond.
The show premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, in early 2008, where it received critical acclaim before quickly transferring to Broadway later that spring. It holds a unique spot in theatrical history for closing after only 17 previews and a single official performance at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Despite its brief Broadway run, the musical has developed a cult following and remains frequently produced at regional and international theaters.
October 12, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
Animal Farm by Tatty Hennesy
When a group of exploited livestock overthrow their abusive human master, they establish their own self-governing society dedicated to liberty, equality, and cooperative labor. However, the idealistic dream of a fair community is steadily dismantled from within as a power-hungry pig named Napoleon eliminates his rivals and takes absolute control. The new ruling elite slowly rewrite the laws of the revolution to justify their own privileges, turning the farm into a chilling dictatorship where all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.
Originally commissioned and first staged by the National Youth Theatre in 2021, this adaptation received its professional premiere in early 2025 as a major UK co-production by Theatre Royal Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse, and Nottingham Playhouse. It went on to win Best Play Revival at the 2025 UK Theatre Awards and was nominated for an Olivier Award.
October 19, 2026 at 5:30:00 PM
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors by Gordon Greenberg
When a timid English real estate agent travels to Transylvania to meet a mysterious new client, he unwittingly unleashes Count Dracula, who is reimagined as a preening narcissist suffering an existential crisis. As the famed, female vampire hunter Doctor Jean Van Helsing pursues the count across the British countryside, a madcap chase ensues to save the agent's family from the vampire's clutches. This fast-paced adaptation combines the narrative of Bram Stoker's classic horror novel with the style of a classic bedroom farce and rapid-fire pop culture gags.
The play originally premiered Off-Broadway at New World Stages in September 2023, following regional development at theaters like the Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
October 26, 2026 at 6:30:00 PM
Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, John Kander & Fred Ebb
Inside the Kit Kat Club of 1931 Berlin, starry-eyed singer Sally Bowles and an impish emcee sound the clarion call to decadent fun, while outside a certain political party grows into a brutal force.
The original production opened on Broadway in 1966, winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and spawning numerous high-profile revivals, including Sam Mendes' dark, immersive staging.
November 2, 2026 at 6:30:00 PM
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive by Selina Fillinger
When the President of the United States uses a highly offensive expletive to describe his wife, he unwittingly triggers a massive public relations nightmare that rapidly escalates into a full-blown global diplomatic crisis. The job of cleaning up the mess falls squarely on the shoulders of the seven brilliant, completely beleaguered women who actually keep the executive branch running.
The comedy made its Broadway debut at the Shubert Theatre in April 2022 under the direction of Susan Stroman. It featured a high-profile, all-female ensemble cast including Julie White, Rachel Dratch (both nominated for Tony Awards for their roles), Lilli Cooper, Lea DeLaria, Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura, and Vanessa Williams.
November 9, 2026 at 6:30:00 PM
RED by John Logan
Set in 1958 and 1959, this intense, two-handed intellectual drama centers on the abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. Having just accepted the biggest commission in the history of modern art—a series of large-scale murals for New York’s exclusive Four Seasons restaurant—Rothko works feverishly in his Bowery studio alongside his newly hired, twenty-something assistant, Ken. Over the course of two years, the two men paint together and fiercely debate the true purpose of art, commercialism, and the generational shifts of the art world.
The play premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in December 2009 starring Alfred Molina as Rothko and Eddie Redmayne as Ken. It transferred to Broadway in 2010, where it swept the Tony Awards, winning six accolades including Best Play. The production has since become a global modern classic, highlighted by a major first West End revival at Wyndham's Theatre in 2018 with Molina reprising his role alongside Alfred Enoch.
November 16, 2026 at 6:30:00 PM
1536 by Ava Pickett
In a rural field in Essex, three working-class young women, Anna, Jane, and Mariella, gather to share local gossip and escape their harsh daily realities. Their world is upended when rumors arrive from London that King Henry VIII has arrested his second wife, Anne Boleyn, for treason. As the shocking royal drama unfolds at a distance, the trickle-down effect of state-sanctioned misogyny rapidly bleeds into their own village, prompting local men to mistreat the local women through sudden force and intimidation.
The darkly comic drama had its world premiere at London's Alley Theatre in May 2025 under the direction of Lyndsey Turner. Following immense critical acclaim—including winning the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize—the production transferred to the West End's Ambassadors Theatre for a limited engagement in May 2026. Utilizing contemporary language and sharp, anachronistic humor, Pickett’s script was nominated for multiple Laurence Olivier Awards and stands as a celebrated exploration of historical and modern sexual politics.
Our popular ZEST Monday Readings are a fantastic way to explore diverse scripts, connect with fellow theatre enthusiasts, and get to know our community in a relaxed, informal setting. Held almost every Monday evening at St. Andrew's Community Centre in central Zurich, these sessions are a cornerstone of ZEST.
What To Expect
Our Monday Readings are a unique way to experience the world of theatre. Here's a quick look at what happens:
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Relaxed and Informal: We read scripts in hand, without rehearsals, sets, or costumes. The focus is on discovery and fun.
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Open to Everyone: These sessions are for both ZEST members and those curious about joining. Anyone who understands and speaks English is welcome.
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Getting Involved: Newcomers are never pressured to read. You're welcome to simply listen, and you can speak to a committee member at any time if you'd like to get more involved.
Ready to Dive In?
There's no need to sign up in advance. Simply check our calendar for the next session and come along!
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Time: Sessions typically start around 19:30, with an informal get-together starting at 19:00.
Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletter for newcomers to get the latest news and invitations.
Support Our Community
These readings are a great way to experience ZEST, but they are just the beginning. The sessions are organized by members, for members. By becoming a ZEST member, you help support our community and the production of our plays.
