Castellucci's Radical 'Bérénice' with Huppert at Théâtre de la Ville

Romeo Castellucci's production of 'Bérénice' based on Racine, starring Isabelle Huppert, runs at Théâtre de la Ville-Sarah Bernhardt in Paris until March 28, 2024. Castellucci strips Racine's text to only Bérénice's monologues, delivered by Huppert in a fog of distorted words, while Titus (Cheikh Kébé) and Antiochus (Giovanni Manzo) perform dark rituals. The production features a score by Scott Gibbons, costumes by Iris van Herpen, and references to Caravaggio. The theater reopened in October 2023 after seven years of renovations, renamed Sarah Bernhardt, with a program emphasizing popular, creation-driven theater. Artistic director Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota inaugurated the venue with Akram Khan's 'Chotto Desh' and a 25-hour vigil. The season also includes Julien Gosselin's 'Extinction' and a Shakespeare production. The article also highlights other upcoming performances: 'Otages' by Sebastian Rivas and Nina Bouraoui at the Biennale des Musiques Exploratoires in Lyon (March 17-23), and Philippe Schoeller's 'Hercule, l'Hydre de Lerne' in Marseille (March 14).