Omar Porras brings Friedrich Dürrenmatt's La Visite de la vieille dame (The Visit) to Equilibre in Fribourg. The performance takes place on Thursday 3 December 2026 at 8 pm.
The story
Friedrich Dürrenmatt's play premiered in 1956 at the Schauspielhaus in Zurich, directed by Oskar Wälterlin.
Omar Porras was born in Bogotá in 1963. He moved to Paris in 1984, then settled in Geneva in 1990.
He founded Teatro Malandro in Geneva in 1990.
The company blends Western and Eastern traditions, masks, music and physical theatre. It has toured Europe, Latin America and Japan.
His first version of the play opened in 1993 at Le Garage, a Geneva squat.
The production won the Prix romand des spectacles indépendants in 1994.
This success moved the company from Geneva's alternative scene to larger venues.
Omar Porras revived the production in 2004 and 2015.
His versions total some 300 performances in around 60 venues.
They have played in Switzerland, France, Venezuela, Réunion and Colombia.
Omar Porras received the Swiss Grand Prix for Theatre, the Hans Reinhart Ring, in 2014.
He has directed TKM Théâtre Kléber-Méleau in Renens since July 2015.
He has also been an associate artist at the Centre Dürrenmatt in Neuchâtel since 2015.
The new version opened at TKM from 22 September to 1 November 2026, before a tour of French-speaking Switzerland.
Omar Porras will step down as director of TKM in June 2027, with this production.
Who organises it
Equilibre hosts the production in Fribourg.
TKM Théâtre Kléber-Méleau is the producer. The Maison de la Culture de Bourges and Château Rouge in Annemasse are co-producers.
The Fondation Charlotte Kerr, the Fondation Françoise Champoud and Migros Culture Percentage support the production.
What to find
A billionaire, Claire Zachanassian, returns to her home village. She offers to buy the death of the man who betrayed her.
The community slowly gives in. The play explores corruption, collective responsibility and the power of money.
Omar Porras directs and adapts the text, using Jean-Pierre Porret's translation. He plays Claire Zachanassian himself.
The cast includes Pierre Boulben, Francisco Cabello, Manon Castellano, Karl Eberhard, Antoine Joly, Jeanne Pasquier, Omar Porras and Marie-Evane Schallenberger.
Fredy Porras and Omar Porras designed the set. The original music is by Andrès Garcia, Omar Porras and Sarten.
Practical information
- Dates, Thursday 3 December 2026
- Times, 8 pm
- Duration, 1 hr 50 min
- Venue, Equilibre, place Jean-Tinguely 1, 1700 Fribourg
- Price, 45 to 60 depending on category and concession
- Tickets, online on the Equilibre-Nuithonie website or on 026 350 11 00
Links
- Equilibre-Nuithonie, show page and tickets
- All events across French-speaking Switzerland, Genève Infos Agenda
Sources
- Equilibre-Nuithonie, show page, accessed on 14 November 2026
- TKM, production pack (via Le Crochetan), accessed on 14 November 2026
- La Télé, article on Omar Porras leaving TKM, accessed on 14 November 2026
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