A look behind the scenes of the Lake Thun Games 2025

The Lake Thun Festival is known far beyond the region - as an impressive open-air musical right on the shores of Lake Thun, with spectacular stage sets and touching stories. But what actually happens behind the scenes? We were given an exclusive insight and take you with us.

In summer 2025, the Thunerseespiele will bring a piece of Parisian history to the Bernese Oberland: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" celebrated its premiere on the lake stage - with a view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. From July 9 to August 23, 2025, the internationally acclaimed Disney musical will be performed in a specially restaged version. And it is precisely this story - with its high church tower, dramatic locations and elaborate crowd scenes - that demands a special stage.

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Stage & grandstand: flexibility in planning

The grandstand at the Thunerseespiele offers 2,500 seats this season. Whether this number will be adjusted - for example to 2,700 or even almost 3,000 seats - will be decided in March, depending on how advance sales go.

The entire structure - from the stage to the substructures to the grandstand - is being built by the company Nüssli, which has been involved in the project since the first edition. It ensures that even complex requirements such as the mighty church tower of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" can be realized. This season, the stage rises 18 meters above the lake, 14 meters of which can actually be played on. The impressive structure is erected anew every year, adapted to the play, plot, direction and stage idea.

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Music & sound: Live, precise and dynamic

A 15-piece orchestra plays in the acoustically shielded orchestra pit, complemented by digitally controlled sounds from a laptop. You can tell that this is live music by the natural timbres and vocal subtleties.

Thanks to 50 microphones, the Tiemax 3D sound system and the finely tuned sound mix, a great sound experience is created. The actors' voices are recorded via radio microphones and sent to the control room above the stands. Based on the tracking devices that the cast wear on their bodies, the sound is distributed to the loudspeakers in the control room (if a performer is on stage left, the sound comes from the left; if someone is singing on the right, the sound comes from the right). In addition to the tracking device and microphone, all performers also wear a radio through which they can hear the music, the voices of their fellow actors and instructions.

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Communication & procedure backstage

To ensure that everything runs smoothly, communication behind the scenes is central: a radio network with four channels ensures coordination between the director, lighting, technology and show operations. There is also an open intercom system for quick arrangements.

Around the stage there is a workshop, a costume room, the make-up room, dressing rooms for ladies, gentlemen, choir and orchestra - including a props room, a drying room for costumes and a separate assistant director's base. During the first act, there is no significant break for the performers, which means they have to change, re-dress and get out again - sometimes through narrow corridors or alternative entrances.

The image of the conductor, which is transmitted to several screens, is a major aid in the process. Lighting and stage technology also work visually - everything is meticulously coordinated.

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Costumes, wigs & little tricks

This year there are around 200 costumes in total, an average of three per performer - with a cast and chorus of around 45 people. The soloists' costumes are created in the in-house studio, while some of the others are made at the IDM sewing factory. Some are sold after the production, others remain in the collection.

The team of ten dressers takes care of washing, repairs and maintenance. And a tried and tested trick against stage odours: white vodka - neutralizes odours and disinfects. The costumes are accompanied by many wigs: This year there are more than 60 weatherproof wigs made of synthetic hair in use. Synthetic hair is indispensable for this outdoor production in particular, as it is much less delicate than human hair wigs.

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Culinary experience: Catering with sports expertise

Behind the stands there is a catering area with around 500 seats, which is available to spectators before the performance, during the interval and after the show. Sportgastro AG is responsible for the catering - an experienced partner that also manages the catering in the PostFinance Arena at SC Bern.

The offer ranges from fine menus and snacks to a harmonious drinks service. For many visitors, the culinary part is an integral part of the Seespiel experience - whether as a dinner event or as a cozy aperitif with a view of the lake and stage.

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In conversation with Amaya & Leslie

A highlight of our visit: we were able to meet two actresses in person - Amaya Keller and Leslie Zellweger. They patiently answered many of our questions.

Amaya Keller brings international experience with her - including from Hamburg - and has already been part of the Thunerseespiele several times. She finds world premieres such as "Dällebach Kari", in which the roles can still be developed, particularly exciting. In addition to the stage, she is also active as a voice-over artist, and many people would recognize her voice from advertising - for example from Fielmann, Starbucks and Nespresso.

Leslie Zellweger comes from Thun and is fulfilling her heart's desire with this year's engagement. She was still a childcare worker behind the scenes in 2024, and before that she sang in the amateur choir. Now she is joining the professional ensemble for the first time. Her path led her from secondary school, media and journalism studies and radio work to Hamburg, where she completed her musical training. She has never completely let go of the microphone either - she is currently building up her second professional foothold as a voice artist.

Incidentally, there is now an official career path for young musical talents: the EFZ as a stage dancer specializing in musicals is a reality - the first cohort successfully completed their training this year. A promising development for young talents in Switzerland who want to get a taste of the stage.

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Be there live

Conclusion: The Lake Thun Festival 2025 will not only bring a moving story to the stage - but also a tremendous interplay of all areas. Anyone who looks behind the scenes will understand: For Quasimodo the Hunchback to be able to raise his voice, it takes a lot of people in different departments working in the background with total dedication.

The musical "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" can be experienced on stage in Thun until August 23, 2025.

To the tickets

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Tip for connoisseurs

If you want to eat in style before the performance, these offers provide the perfect setting:

Lake Thun Games special at the Restaurant Burehuus

Deltapark Vitalresort - Combination with overnight stay & musical

An unforgettable evening awaits - both musically and culinary.