Les Paravents, Arthur Nauzyciel, Creation 2023
Published in 1961, at the height of the Algerian War (1954-1962), Les Paravents, considered by Genet as "the apogee of his theatrical work", was staged in Paris five years later in 1966, provoking a huge scandal.
This play is certainly one of the founding pillars of contemporary French theater. Roger Blin premiered Les Paravents at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1966, and the scandal was enormous, with some seeing it as nothing more than an insult to France. Set in an Arab country colonized by Europeans, its starting point is the reflection and chaos of the Algerian war.
In this cheeky, epic fresco featuring some 100 characters, Genet thwarts and challenges our codes and expectations. In a unique language, he carries us away and illuminates the world of the dead and the world of the living in various tableaux that make up a fascinating political and poetic ritual. 60 years after its creation, 16 actors and actresses form this human community that also tells a story of immigration in France.
Text
JEAN GENET
Directed by
ARTHUR NAUZYCIEL
With
HINDA ABDELAOUI, ZBEIDA BELHAJAMOR, MOHAMED BOUADLA, AYMEN BOUCHOU, OCÉANE CAÏRATY, MARIE-SOPHIE FERDANE, XAVIER GALLAIS, HAMMOU GRAÏA, ROMAIN GY, JAN HAMMENECKER, BRAHIM KOUTARI, BENICIA MAKENGELE, MOUNIR MARGOUM, FARIDA RAHOUADJ, MAXIME THÉBAULT, CATHERINE VUILLEZ
Assistant director
CONSTANCE DE SAINT REMY, THÉO HEUGEBAERT
Dramaturgy
LEILA ADHAM
Choreographic work
DAMIEN JALET
Lighting
SCOTT ZIELINSKI
Set design and props
RICCARDO HERNÁNDEZ
With the collaboration of
LÉA TUBIANA
Sound
XAVIER JACQUOT
Video
PIERRE-ALAIN GIRAUD
Costumes, make-up, hairstyles
JOSÉ LÉVY
Costume assistant
MARION RÉGNIER
Hair and make-up
AGNÈS DUPOIRIER
Casting
BÉNÉDICTE GUIHO
Set design
ATELIERS DU THÉÂTRE DU NORD
Costume design
ATELIER DU THÉÂTRE NATIONAL DE BRETAGNE
Production: Théâtre National de Bretagne, Rennes.
Coproduction: Maison de la Culture d'Amiens. With the artistic participation of the Jeune théâtre national and the École du Nord insertion program, supported by the Région Hauts-de-France and the Ministère de la Culture.
Creation 2023 at TNB
Salle Vilar
Running time: 4h with intermission