Between theatre, musical and concert

With its current show ‘Spectra’, the English Theatre Group of Zug is bringing a new kind of musical to the stage: three acts, peppered with scenes from well-known stage works, merge into a modern live show - without leading roles, but with full stage presence.
 

The details of the new musical ‘Spectra’ are still being finalised in the run-up to the premiere. All the performers are thereby still in their everyday outfits, and the glittering costumes will have to wait. The acting and musical performances of the 20-strong Show Choir group are being rehearsed again and again - on Saturday at the Gewürzmühle in Zug and on Sunday at the International School in Walterswil. And now - after dozens of rehearsal sessions - it's time for the final round: the premiere is in the Burgbachsaal in Zug on Saturday, 24^th May.

Kate Michaels and Hanns Zöllner are sharing directing duties. It was Kate in particular who provided the impetus for ‘Spectra’, as the musical is not a composition that already exists. Her great enthusiasm is palpable and, during rehearsals, she says: ‘It's a new, modern form, a live show, with songs and theatre scenes from three different musicals.’

Hanns Zöllner adds: ‘We've performed musicals for years. The traditional musicals are cool, but require a very large team. The ‘Zug Show Choir’ ensemble only consists of 20 people who can sing and also act. That's why we developed ‘Spectra’. The special thing is that everyone is now involved on stage: There is no star with a leading role, instead everyone has a function.’ This is time-consuming, not least because the project has become bigger and more technically sophisticated.

Songs from well-known musicals
‘Spectra’ is not a musical with a traditional plot, but it’s not a concert either: it’s a show that combines theatre, musical and concert aspects in three acts - in a special atmosphere that takes the audience into several time zones. Everything is brought together in an exciting dialogue.

The first act tells the dark story of ‘Sweeney Todd’, the barber who is unjustly banished from London. He is rescued from a shipwreck, and returns to London, where he learns that the judge who banished him is responsible for the death of his wife, and is holding his daughter captive. He now seeks bloody revenge. Toby (Tobias Ragg), a character from the Sweeney Todd story, is the common thread running through this story, together with the Goddesses of Fate, who introduce each act with excerpts from ‘The Greatest Show’.

The English Theatre Group of Zug rehearse their performance     
Kate Michaels and Hanns Zöllner are sharing direction duties        Photos: Stefan Kaiser
 

In the second act, the Goddesses of Fate take us back to an earlier time, where P. T. Barnum wants to realise his dream of the greatest circus miracle, with curiosities of all kinds. In ‘The Greatest Showman’, however, the circus people reclaim their place on the stage, not as curiosities, but as self-confident individuals.

A glimpse into another world
The third act, the ‘Rocky Horror Show’, is about a glimpse into outer space, or into a strange dream. While the ensemble, in their roles from the previous acts, watch a film from the past together, the scenery becomes bizarre, with bizarre guests. The whole thing ends in a mysterious party where everyone sings and dances together. And you ask yourself, was it all just a dream?

‘Spectra’ offers an exciting plot and lots of music with well-known catchy tunes, with pianist and arranger Tiffany Butt and drummer Matthias Bucher accompanying the team and setting atmospheric accents. The new production is the result of the great commitment of everyone involved. According to Hanns Zöllner, there will be German and English subtitles in the Burgbachsaal to make things easier to understand. And he is particularly pleased that, following an invitation to local asylum seekers, around 20 registrations have already been received.

The performances of ‘Spectra’ by the English Theatre Group of Zug take place in the Burgbachsaal Zug from Saturday, the 24^th May (premiere, 7.30 pm) to Wednesday, the 28^th May.
You can find more information and a link to book tickets at www.etgz.ch.