Théâtre de Vidy is Lausanne's serious contemporary stage, set near the lake in the Vidy district rather than in the old upper town. The building and its programming both lean modern: theatre, dance, performance, and touring productions that can be more adventurous than a conventional municipal playhouse. If you follow European performing arts, it is one of the city's names to know.
For most travellers, Vidy is worth checking only if the calendar lines up or if you want to see Lausanne beyond the cathedral-and-museums circuit. Combine an evening performance with a walk along the lakefront, or use the area as a cultural counterpoint to the Olympic Museum nearby. Language matters for some shows, but not all; check the programme carefully.