Show Dates: Wednesday 30 October to Saturday 2 November 2024 (6 shows)
Venue: The Cockpit, Gateforth Street, London NW8 8EH

London, 25 September 2024 – This autumn, Valchera’s, an evocative new play exploring emigration, identity, friendship, and female empowerment, will debut at The Cockpit in Marylebone, London. Inspired by the eponymous Swiss-Italian restaurant that once stood by Richmond Station, Valchera’s was specially commissioned by the Unione Ticinese – one of the UK's largest and oldest Swiss associations – to celebrate its 150th anniversary. 

This production serves as a contemporary commentary on the courage, adaptability, and resilience required to build a life in unfamiliar places and navigate new beginnings. As migration continues to shape our global reality, Valchera’s explores the challenges of those who choose to leave their homeland in pursuit of a new life abroad. The play will resonate with London’s diverse audiences where countless stories of migration intersect, as it follows the journey of two women fighting for their autonomy. 

Set in early 1900s London, on the cusp of war, the play follows Iride – a passionate emigrant from the depths of the Swiss Alps, whose mysterious past disrupts the life and beliefs of Tina – a London born-and-raised headstrong Swiss restaurateur. While the two women work together in the Valchera’s restaurant, they embark on a journey of emancipation, confronting societal expectations in their quest for freedom. 

About The Production

Lea Ferrari, the Swiss-Italian playwright behind Valchera’s, explores the themes of emigration from the often-forgotten perspective of women. Inspired by her family’s personal experience emigrating from Ticino in the Swiss Alps to Paris, she explains: 

“As time blurs, a story from the twentieth century resurfaces with force. In the second millennium, it seems that certain truths still need to be explored. This play is not just a reflection on the past, but a vital conversation about the ongoing struggles and triumphs of migrants today.” 

Directed by Scottish-Swiss performance artist Alan Alpenfelt, Valchera’s is a collaborative project that draws from the personal experiences of its creative team. This project unites a collective of Swiss artists who, much like the characters in the play, have personal connections to the themes of migration and identity. Alan Alpenfelt commented: 

“Valchera’s is about the choices we make in life. Each decision, whether to stay or leave, whom to love, or how to pursue our independence, carries consequences we must own. Just like Tina and Iride, we navigate a world shaped by our choices, revealing the profound impact of those we allow into our lives. It’s a celebration of the courage and resilience it takes to forge our own paths.”

Valchera’s is produced by the Unione Ticinese with the kind support of the Embassy of Switzerland in the United Kingdom, Presence Switzerland, Repubblica e Cantone Ticino (Fondo Swisslos) and Pro Ticino. In collaboration with New Helvetic Society, FOSSUK and SwissCommunity.