Hortense Belhôte's 'Spectacular Lectures' Blend Feminism, History, and Performance at Théâtre de la Bastille

Comedian and art historian Hortense Belhôte presents an anthology of six 'spectacular lectures' at the Théâtre de la Bastille in Paris, France, until April 22, 2026. These performances merge academic knowledge with humor, pop culture, and theatrical play, covering diverse themes like women's football, female graffiti artists, and the French Revolution. Belhôte, who holds a Master's in art history, professionalized her lecture format in 2019 after a commission from the Centre Dramatique National de Besançon. Her work adopts feminist and decolonial perspectives to highlight marginalized histories, aiming to create cultural bridges and revisit dominant narratives. Specific productions include 'Histoires de Graffeuses' (2021), 'Performeureuses' (2022) on contemporary dance performance for Théâtre de Vanves, 'Et la marmotte?' (2022) on mountain sociology for the Centre Chorégraphique National de Grenoble, and '1664' (2022) critiquing Louis XIV's absolutism at the Centre National de la Danse. In 2023, 'Portraits de Famille – les oublié.es de la révolution française' was produced by L'Espace 1789 in Saint-Ouen and performed at Théâtre de l'Atelier in Paris. Belhôte also created the web series 'Merci de ne pas Toucher' for Arte, directed by Cécilia de Arce, which decodes European classical art masterpieces. She has taught in art schools, design institutions, and universities, blending her practices into these unique performances that tour venues for spectacle and education.