Milo Rau plays with the idea that a young artist is defined as much by his roles as by his family history, and in this scenic reflection explores the experiences that subtly alter the course of our lives: generational conflicts, political events, love and death. Light and humorous, “The letter” presents itself as a manifesto for what popular theatre can be today. From the story of Joan of Arc to Chekhov’s “The Seagull”, the performance unfolds on multiple levels, in a constant shift between art and life. Even the dead return to the stage thanks to recorded voices.
In “The letter”, Olga Mouak and Arne De Tremerie attempt to reinvent popular theater in the 21st century, telling a moving and personal story of theater. From Jean Vilar to Shakespeare, from stand-up to contemporary political theater—each performance is a unique encounter with the audience. The two actors question the essence of theater, revisit their stage memories, and celebrate the nature of the performing arts. Their performance combines humor, absurdity, and profound reflections. The play thus becomes a tribute to the vitality of theatre past and present: a popular theatre anchored in the here and now.
A playful and moving performance in which Milo Rau transforms theatre into a reflection on life and memory.
Assistant director and subtitle operator: Giacomo Bisordi, Edward Fortes
Tour management: Mascha Euchner-Martinez
Performance: Arne De Tremerie, Olga Mouak and the voices of Isabelle Huppert, Anne Alvaro, Jocelyne Monier, Marijke Pinoy
Producers: Festival d'Avignon
Co-producers:
Éclat – Centre National des Arts de la Rue et de l’Espace Public (Aurillac), Théâtre de la Manufacture – Centre Dramatique National Nancy Lorraine, Théâtre Silvia Monfort (Paris), Théâtre Public de Montreuil – Centre Dramatique National, Théâtre du Champ au Roy – Scène Conventionnée d’Intérêt National Art & Création (Guingamp), Le Canal Théâtre de Redon Agglomération – Scène Conventionnée d’Intérêt National, CCAS Activités Sociales de l’Énergie, Scène 55 – Scène Conventionnée d’Intérêt National Art & Création (Mougins), Théâtre Durance – Scène Nationale (Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban), La Soufflerie – Scène Conventionnée de Rezé
Thanks:
Odéon – Théâtre de l’Europe (Paris), Stéphane Braunschweig and the Ensemble of The Seagull, Les Plateaux Sauvages (Paris), La Commune – Centre Dramatique National d’Aubervilliers
Performance in French, with Romanian and English translation
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