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Transmissions

HUMAN MONSTERS – Three Tragedies of Seneca

Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •
Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •
Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •
Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •
Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •
Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •
Cours Florent, third year, 3rd module • Marcus BORJA Class • Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Pyrénées campus, François Florent room •

Antonin Artaud used to say about Seneca that he was “the greatest tragic author of all times, an initiate in secrets who knew, better than Aeschylus, how to put them in words. I cry while reading this theater of such an inspired man.”

Colossal Latin poet of the first century AD, History long remembered Seneca only as the Stoic philosopher, tutor of Nero (who forced him to commit suicide). Yet, his sharp and inventive
dramas reveal a complex playwright. His lively and colorful writing, combined with his sens of spectacle, emanates from his verses tinged with blood, fire and fury.

Seneca’s tragedies portray characters who shatter humanity’s limits and transform into heroes of monstrosity. Super model of Shakespeare and the Renaissance’s avant-garde playwrights, his overflowing writing, his freedom of speech and his so-human self-expression flicking excess were neglected since the classical age, but the 20th century has fortunately brought them back to light. Florence Dupont’s rhythmic and lively translations restore the musicality and harshness of this beautiful language. All we have to do is play!

We have tackled this incandescent material with theatrical tools, with dance and music, in order to stage a choreographic and polyphonic performance. The result was a highly technical score which the actors have bravely taken on. Blood, sweat and fiery words brought back extraordinary women and men to life on stage in all their full monstrousness.

“It will come
It will also come in your family
Madness will come.”
Seneca

MEDEA

MEDEA magician, Jason’s lover – Lili Bourguignon, Laetitia Bocquet et Manon Potier
THE NURSE – Athéna Auguet et Gwladys Fernandez
CREON, roi de Corinthe – Jean-Jacques Scemama
TWO GUARDS – Léopold Colombani et Nathan Forissier
THE CORYPHEUS – Tolga Kodalak
JASON, son of the King of Iolcos, chief of the Argonauts, Medea’s lover – Moïse Vermeil
THE MESSENGER – Myriam Güldenpfennig

MEDEA’S TWO CHILDREN – Léopold Colombani, Moïse Vermeil, Gauthier Lair and Jean-Jacques Scemama (puppeteers)

THE TROJAN WOMEN

HECUBA, fallen Trojan queen, mother of Hector, Cassandra, Paris and Polyxène – Mélinda Méro
TALTHYBIUS, herald of the Greeks – Delphine Azernour
PYRRHUS, Greek hero, son of Achille – Lucien Daprey
AGAMEMNON, King of Argos, leader of the Greek armies – Charly Kassab
CALCHAS, Greek soothsayer – Alexis Dando Tran
THE CORYPHEUS – Luna Marconnet
ANDROMACHE, Hector’s widow, Hecuba’s daughter-in-law – Maéna Krotenberg et Laura Bernard
HECTOR’S GHOST, prince troyen – Moïse Vermeil
AN OLD TROYAN WOMAN – Athéna Auguet
ULYSSES, Greek Hero – Gauthier Lair
HELENA, Queen of Sparta – Leila Roulin
ASTYANAX, son of Hector and Andromaque – Léopold Colomban, Nathan Forissieri and Harmonie Reybaud (puppeteers)

AGAMEMNON

THE GHOST OF THYESTE, Aegisthus’ father, Agamemno’s uncle – Jean-Jacques Scemama
THE CORYPHEUS – Léonard Castanié
CLYTEMNESTRA, Queen of Argos, Agamemnon’s wife – Harmonie Reybaud
THE NURSE – Manon Potier
AEGISTHE, son of Thyestes, Clytemnestre’s lover  – Nathan Forissier
EURYBATES, Greek messenger – Léopold Colombani
CASSANDRA, Trojan prisoner, daughter of the late King Priam, prophetess – Brenda Romanes
AGAMEMNON, King of Argos, Clytemnestra’s husband – Alexis Dando Tran
ELECTRA, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra – Luna Marconnet
STROPHIUS, King of Phocis – Moïse Vermeil

Credits

Assistant Director and lighting manager: Hélène Dieulot
Puppets Manufacturer: Léopold Colombani et Moïse Vermeil
Sound Design: Nathan Forissier
Light Design: Marcus Borja and Leila Roulin
Makeup: Athéna Auguet
Hairstyle: Maéna Krotenberg
Sound Manager: Philippine Lallias