Michel Deutsch's Book Explores Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe's Theatrical Legacy and Critical Engagement

Michel Deutsch's book 'Souvenirs épars. Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe, les années théâtre' examines the philosopher's unique and critical relationship with theater, published by Christian Bourgois in 2018. Deutsch, a writer and director, analyzes Lacoue-Labarthe's dual role as a thinker and practitioner, focusing on his view of post-Brecht theater as a tool against cultural industry and totalitarian tendencies. This involved deconstructing representation through a return to tragedy, notably via translations of Sophocles by Hölderlin. Lacoue-Labarthe collaborated with Deutsch on a 1978 staging of 'Antigone' and later 'Œdipe le tyran' two decades later. Their work found a home at the Théâtre national de Strasbourg under Jean-Pierre Vincent, which became an experimental hub inspired by the Schaubühne of Peter Stein and Klaus Michael Grüber. The theater's democratic ensemble, influenced by May 1968, blended academic research with performance, prioritizing participant formation over final spectacle, though the productions were remembered for their beauty and intensity. A volume of Lacoue-Labarthe's theatrical writings is set to appear in the same 'Détroits' collection, highlighting his essential contribution in a field where contemporary French philosophers have shown little interest.