CURTAIN UP - LATEST NEWS

Sunday 8th September, starting at 10h30 from the GAOS Barn. You will receive a set of cryptic clues, which will lead you around the Genevan countryside, taking pictures and collecting information, in order to finally arrive at a mystery destination where a barbecue will be awaiting you. Please bring a salad or dessert and something to drink, meat will be provided.

You can sign up here. Indicate whether you have a car and how many spaces, or whether you need a spot in somebody else's car, and let us know if you will be attending the barbecue.

Have you been asking yourself what GAOS is planning after the summer? Wonder no more! Here's an overview of what's coming:

- 21st and 22nd September 2024: Life Rolls Along, a Sondheim musical evening, arranged by Aurélie Laporte and Özge Tunçalp, with Empi Mörn as musical director. Venue: HQ.

- 6th-8th and 12th-15th December 2024: Aladdin, panto directed by Carrie Douglass-Rose, assisted by Caroline Crow, with Chelsea Middleton as musical director. Venue: Théâtre de Marens (Nyon).

- 18th December 2024: Choral Group Carol Concert, co-conducted by Chelsea Middleton and Lorna Donkin. Venue: Salle Communale de Founex. This year, we will have a Christmas Market, more details to follow.

- 24th-25th January 2025: The Roaring 20s, Fringe show, directed by Wolfgang and Annette Schutt. Venue: HQ. Rehearsals for this show will take place on Wednesday afternoons, 14h-16h, at HQ. Here's a list of the musical numbers included in the show. Interested in taking part? Contact Wolfgang by the 10th of August!

- 29th May-1st June 2025: Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Duncan Lally, assisted by Sarah Irwin, with Chelsea Middleton as musical director. Venue: Théâtre de Marens (Nyon). Would you like to be part of the production team? Get in touch with Heather Lally, the production secretary.

- Summer 2025 (dates and venue to be confirmed): Les Misérables, school edition, Youth Show, directed by Frou-Frou.

- October 2025: Quantum Lovers, a collaboration with CERN. More details to come!

Discover TWENTY, a captivating show that offers a retrospective of the bet GAOS Youth Shows performed since 2004. Dive into the dynamic and creative world of young talents aged 11 to 19 who will bring unforgettable moments to life on stage.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow in action!

Here you can find the electronic flyer. Please share widely!

Dates and times: 30th August at 19h30, 31st August, at 19h30, and 1st September at 14h00.

Venue: Salle Communale de Founex

Tickets are available from Sunday 28th of July. Prices are CHF20 for stalls and CHF25 for raked seats and the balcony. There will be no numbered seating. 

Early-bird discount: a 10% discount is offered to GAOS members during the first two weeks of sales. Discount code is TWENTYGAOS. You can buy as many tickets as you need, but please do not share the code outside the society.

Call for help: Are you available to help with Front-of-House duties? Please contact Gisela. Do you have some time to help painting the set at the barn? Get in touch with John Fox.

On Saturday 6th of July (yes, while England was playing Switzerland!), the GAOS Choral Group joined the Rochester Oratorio Society in their concert at Holy Trinity Church. We performed together Gloria and Laudamus Te, by Poulenc, and joined them in their second encore, The Road Home, by Stephen Paulus. Our conductor, Chelsea Middleton, also performed several solos during the concert.

We all enjoyed the opportunity to share the stage with another choir, and look forward to similar experiences in the future.

We are pleased to announce the cast of Aladdin, which is as follows:

Principals (in character alphabetical order):

Abanazar - Gisela Schmidt-Martin

Aladdin - Eloise Christen

Emperor - Majbritt Byskov-Bridges

Genie of the Lamp - Sébastien Miazza

Jasmine - Clàudia Baró-Huelmo

So-Shy - Sei-Yun Park-El-Darwish

Spirit of the Ring - Rachel Ash

Widow Twankey - Nabile Milad

Wishee Washee - Sarah Irwin

Advanced dancers: Ketty Daune, Nataliya Domnina, Veronika Kac, Sera Middleton, Mélanie Vincent, Sophie Warans

Adult chorus: Susana Álvarez, Miranda Barker, Miles Brittain, Wenona Christie Arndt, Helen Dixon-Altaber, Gerel Jargalsaikhan, Joanita Kalibala, Emily Lee, Lana Vinogradova

Children chorus: Sophie Ash, Ilona Assemat, Thea Cartwright, Penelope Craig, Tessa Dalanay, Saiari Ford, Ben Gould, Katherine Gould, Lola Gutiérrez Crow, Zofia Kulaga, Carys Lescrenier, Maisie McCullough, Elizabeth McGaughey, Leticia Miazza, Seth Middleton, Nicole Rodríguez Domnina, Malaika Serena, Zulieka Wittwer

Congratulations to all of them, and our thanks to everyone who auditioned.

We are pleased to announce the cast list for Twenty, our youth show, which will be performed 30th August-1st September at the Salle Communale de Founex.

There are two groups:

Kiwi: Ilona Assemat, Elowen Bowker, Majken Bridges, Orla Cartwright, Thea Cartwright, Saiari Ford, Benjamin Gould, Katherine Gould, Lana Jurin, Marilie Klem, Eleana Malanou, Lena Moon, Fatou N'Diaye

Mango: Morwenna Bowker, Aoife Coghlan, Jack Goacher, Ulysses Kriebel-Peircy, Deyan Marinov, Yaelle Martin, Arthur Mitchell, Louisa Nixon, Javier Papaphilippou, Kimon Papaphilippou, Victoria Py, Paula Raffo Townsend, Leo Rice

The next AGM is scheduled for the 13th of October at 16h. Documents will be published in due course.

As you know, Committee members are elected at the AGM. Nominations are welcome for all posts. We are looking in particular for a Secretary and an Assistant Publicity Manager, as both Susana and Keith will be stepping down.

Remember that motions to amend the Constitution or its Schedules have to be submitted at least 21 days in advance of the meeting. Motions of a general nature can be submitted not less than 48 hours before the time of the meeting.

Date: 13th-14th July, 10h-18h

Venue: GAOS HQ

For Actors - make your character 3D and in glorious technicolour!

Want to hone your acting skills? Whatever your level, you are welcome to join a special 2-day acting workshop led by professional director Eva Sampson.

Cost: GAOS and GEDS members - CHF 100; non-members: CHF 150.

Limited to 25 places.

Payment should be made at the time of registration, if possible. A reserved spot will be confirmed only upon receipt of payment. Keep in mind that places are limited, and will be open to GEDS members as well as the public. Reserve your spot early!

How to register: send an email to Lance Newhart at events@geds.ch with the subject "Acting Workshop Registration" and please send proof of payment. Payment should be made to:

Geneva English Drama Society, 1200 Geneva, Switzerland

IBAN: CH05 0900 0000 1201 0826 9

BIC: POFICHBEXXX

Please add the reference info "Acting Workshop", whether you use e-banking or pay by BVR.

About Eva

Eva Sampson trained on the National Theatre Studio Directors' Course and at the University of Birmingham. She is the Co-Artistic Director of How It Ended theatre company and is an Associate of National Youth Theatre. Eva was the Sky Arts Artistic Associate for Theatre Royal Stratford East during 2022-2023. View Eva's CV here.

On Sunday 8th of September, starting at 10h30 at GAOS HQ, and ending...

If you want to find out, check out the event page and poster.

The GAOS Choral Group has been invited to join the Rochester Oratorio Society in a part of their Geneva concert on Saturday 6th of July at 18h00 in the Holy Trinity Church - and YOU are warmly invited to come listen! The ROS is directed by Eric Townell, brother of Choral Group member Karin Kaminker, and we will join then in Poulenc's Gloria and Laudamus Te. Their choir is very accomplished and has a super programme planned. In addition to our bit with them, it includes Bob Chilcott's beautiful arrangement of the U2 song MLK. We are all privileged to hear their performance! See flyer here.