Séverine Chavrier stages Faulkner's 'Absalon, Absalon!' at Paris's Odéon through April 2025

At the Odéon – Théâtre de l'Europe in Paris, Séverine Chavrier presents a new interpretation of William Faulkner's 1936 novel 'Absalon, Absalon!', which will run until April 11, 2025. This production debuted at the 2024 Avignon Festival. Chavrier reexamines the tale of Thomas Sutpen's family in the American South across the Civil War era. The five-hour performance incorporates infrared cameras, features a massive colonial house facade, includes live turkeys, and showcases a soundscape created by Congolese artist Armel Malonga. Laurent Papot takes on the role of Sutpen, while Black characters recount the experiences of white Southerners. The adaptation delves into issues of racial purity and heritage. Future productions include 'Bovary' at La Monnaie and 'The Name of the Rose' at La Scala.