Valérie Dréville and Guy Cassiers Adapt Camille de Toledo's 'Thésée, sa nouvelle vie' at Avignon Festival
During the Avignon Festival, Valérie Dréville and Guy Cassiers showcase a theatrical interpretation of Camille de Toledo's 2020 book 'Thésée, sa nouvelle vie,' which continues until July 24. This production delves into the repercussions of the 2005 suicide of de Toledo's brother, Jérôme, alongside the loss of their parents. Embracing the character 'Thésée,' de Toledo explores the societal aspects of suicide, merging documentary elements with fiction. Dréville's solo performance offers a striking visual experience, while Cassiers highlights a variety of perspectives. Spanning 1 hour and 40 minutes, the work reflects on de Toledo's personal narrative and the complexities of 20th-century Europe, concluding on a hopeful note with themes of 'revivance' and 'avenir' (future). Additionally, 'Le projet Barthes' is available from July 4 to 24 at Le Train Bleu.
Key facts
- Valérie Dréville and Guy Cassiers adapt Camille de Toledo's novel 'Thésée, sa nouvelle vie' at the Avignon Festival.
- The performance runs until July 24.
- The novel was published in 2020 by Verdier.
- The story follows de Toledo's investigation into his brother Jérôme's suicide in 2005.
- De Toledo moves to Germany with three boxes of archives to explore the question of suicide.
- The production blends documentary and fiction, covering ancestral and European histories.
- Dréville is filmed alone on stage, creating a visual kaleidoscope with photos and images.
- The piece lasts 1 hour 40 minutes and ends optimistically with the concept of 'revivance' and the word 'avenir'.
- A parallel show, 'Le projet Barthes,' runs July 4–24 at Le Train Bleu.
- Dréville trained at the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique de Paris and worked with Antoine Vitez, Claude Régy, Alain Françon, and Stanislas Nordey.
- Cassiers is a Belgian director trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp.
- De Toledo is a writer, visual artist, and video maker based in Berlin.
Entities
Artists
- Valérie Dréville
- Guy Cassiers
- Camille de Toledo
- Antoine Vitez
- Claude Régy
- Alain Françon
- Stanislas Nordey
- Emmanuel Noblet
- Barbara
Institutions
- Avignon Festival
- Verdier
- Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique de Paris
- Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
- Le Train Bleu
- Scala Provence
- RFI
Locations
- Avignon
- France
- Germany
- Berlin
- Antwerp
- Belgium
- Paris