Every year, the Saanenland offers a smorgasbord of events and attractions, from sports to concerts to festivals and more. This year, something especially thrilling is in the air. Literally. Because Der Chrüzwäg vom Castellan, a play by Johann Jakob Romang, will be performed throughout August in a custom-built open-air theatre at the foot of the Wispile.

Celebrating freedom
This theatre project is the latest collaboration between the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) and the ’Echo vom Olden’ male choir. It is a fitting choice. Der Chrüzwäg vom Castellan is a traditional play that tells the story of how the people of Saanen won their freedom. The performance is in Swiss German with no translation, but don’t let that put you off. According to history, this play has been performed every 25 years, so the group is helping to keep tradition alive.

There is something especially atmospheric about open-air theatre. A combination of unique acoustics and the vast natural scenery enveloping the stage contributes to the one-of-a-kind nature of outdoor performances. One of the risks of openair theatre is if it rains – it rains. The team has announced the show will go on whatever the weather, except in the case of storms, extreme storms and snow, so the actors run the risk of sunburn and soggy socks in the name of their art. It’s all part of the adventure!

But the audience need not fret about being uncomfortable. Although the play is being performed in the great outdoors, the grandstand is covered, woollen blankets are on hand for chilly evenings, and refreshment and toilet facilities are on site.

Many hands make light work
The team has been hard at work for the past several months. In addition to the 13-strong organising committee and five additional people involved in the setup, there is a cast of 22 actors with speaking roles, 15 extras, and 20 people who assist with each performance. A special mention should be made of the horse, three geese and chickens, which also make an appearance.

Detailed planning
As you can imagine, there is a lot involved in a project of this size and nature.

The first task was to decide on the location for the theatre. The team had a short list of five spots to pick from and opted for the area at the base of the Wispile for three reasons: it’s a natural amphitheatre, has very cheerful and cooperative landowners and is centrally located in the Saanenland with good access. (The theatre is five minutes from the ’Badweidli’ bus stop or a 20-minute walk from Gstaad railway station. For those coming from further afield, parking is available on nearby Lauenenstrasse.)

Deciding on the location was just the first step. It then took the team around 180 hours to build the stage, set and ancillary structures. Determined to create as authentic an experience as possible, the seamstresses have also been hard at work creating period costumes from 66 metres of fabric (wool, silk and cotton).

Seasonal dishes to whet your appetite
If you think refreshment opportunities will be limited given the open-air location, think again. The catering is in the hands of a formidable team: Marcel Burri (formerly of the Bären, Gsteig), Peter Wyss (formerly of Palace Gstaad) and Heinz Oehrli (formerly the Victoria Gstaad). This trio is running a pop-up ’Castellanbeizli’ where they will offer seasonal and regional dishes from mountain cheese and dried sausage to stir-fries and a selection of cakes. They expect to serve an astounding 37.5 kg of raclette cheese and 60 kg of grilled pork steak over the course of the performance run. They are even able to accommodate groups of up to 25 in the Rittersaal (the Knights’ Hall), offering a unique experience fit for a prince.

In the mood for more?
For history buffs who want to learn more, the team is also organising guided hikes from the Wispile mountain station to Gsteig, taking in the entire Castellan region. The guide will narrate legends concerning historical event s f r o m the Saanenland, including the people’s subjugation to the region of Gruyères and subsequently being ruled by Bern. This package includes the guided hike, transport, dinner at the openair theatre and admission to the play. (While there are no dedicated English-language tours, the guide does speak English.)

Keep tradition alive
Armin Oehrli, president of the team behind the production told GstaadLife: “on behalf of organising committee, I would like to thank all the helpers and sponsors, especially the actors, the landowners and everyone who contributes to the success of the theatre. It is a unique event, so we are confident that there will be many visitors. With a covered grandstand and well-known chefs, visitors’ physical well-being is also well catered for.”
And so say all of us.

ANNA CHARLES

Der Chrüzwäg vom Castellan runs from Saturday, 3 August, until Friday, 30 August (ten performances). The show is in Swiss German with no translation. For information, visit www.freilichttheater-castellan.ch. Tickets are available for pre-purchase from ticketcorner.ch or Gstaad Saanenland Tourism on ticketing@gstaad.ch or on 033 748 81 82. Groups of ten or more people wishing to reserve a table in the Rittersaal of the Castellanbeizli should contact 079 667 16 24 or gastro@freilichttheater-castellan.ch.