Naked Lenin

A play, based on true events that took place in June 1915. Vladimir Lenin, his wife Nadezhda Krupskaya, and the revolutionary Inessa Armand were together vacationing at the Sörenberg resort in Switzerland. Vladimir Lenin had a habit of swimming naked in the local river, which displeased a member of the cantonal council. The ensuing scandal, as well as the twists and turns in the relationship between the spouses and their guest, formed the basis for Vsevolod Bernstein's play. In Russian with German subtitles.

Theater O!Tempora

Theater O!Tempora is dedicated to historical reinterpretation. Its repertoire consists entirely of plays inspired by true historical events. The artists at O!Tempora believe that to truly grasp the essence of history, one must place it under the spotlight — quite literally. By illuminating historical moments on stage, they invite audiences to engage with the past not as distant facts, but as vivid, lived experiences.

Cast

❮

Vsevolod Bernstein, author

Vsevolod Bernstein is a Russian-born author, playwright, and director based in Switzerland since 2007. He is the founder and artistic director of O!Tempora, a theatre collective dedicated to staging works rooted in historical events and cultural memory. Bernstein’s creative portfolio includes books, original plays, and site-specific productions that blend documentary elements with poetic imagination. And besides Vsevolod is a passionate city guide deeply in love with Zurich.

Arina Merzliakova, performer

Arina, a theatre practitioner and singer from Saint-Petersburg, holds a BA in Drama and Screen Acting and an MA in Acting. Since 2022, she has appeared in UK and US productions including Riches (Amazon Prime), You (Netflix), Ted Lasso S3 (Apple TV), and Wicked:For good. Now based in Zurich, she leads acting workshops and performs in local theatre productions.

Vera Zakharchenko, performer

Theatre is my true passion — the stage feels like inspiring space! Off-stage, I’m a mom, a rock climber, pole dancer and a logistic . Life’s a performance, and I try to never miss an act

Iryna Osynska, performer

Theater is my way to explore the hidden sides of the soul. My love for the stage comes from a deep need to feel, to transform, to live many lives. In daily life, I am a loving mother and a compassionate doctor. Working in gynecology connects me to the intimate stories of women — stories that often find their echo in the roles I play.

Valentina, performer, choreographer

Stage is my second home. I started dancing at the age of 4 and later became a professional ballet dancer, performing around the world as a part of a ballet company. Today, I work as a choreographer and also perform in theatre, where I explore how movement and emotion come together in storytelling. Theatre allows me to connect with people in a new way and keep discovering myself as an artist.

Yakov Yakushevsky, performer

For many years, I have been involved in Playback theater, which is an improvisational theater of audience stories. I also perform on stage as a clown and musician. The stage heals, develops, helps you feel alive, and keeps you in touch with the world.

❯