Théâtre du Châtelet
After two years of renovation, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris will reopen in September with Parade. « Artistically innovative while remaining true to the Châtelet tradition, Parade is a concentration of what the new directors of the Theatre, Ruth Mackenzie and Thomas Lauriot dit Prévost, want to share with the public », the Theater says.
It all starts two hours before the show on the square in front of City Hall where free workshops will introduce children to the circus arts (juggling, wire, acrobatics and balloon) to the sound of drums by dozens of amateur percussionists recruited by the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Joined by the Cocteau Machine (an immense bicycle straddled by an animated mechanical Jean Cocteau) designed by the decorator Francis O’Connor, giant puppets, accompanied by amateur percussionists and Maputo artists will take the audience through the streets, forming a great musical and colourful parade.
The entire Théâtre du Châtelet will be invested to recreate the world
of Erik Satie. Lounges, fireplaces, stairs… surprises will await the guests
visitors to all floors of the Theatre, directed by Martin Duncan, with a troupe of some fifty actors and extras
The last highlight of this reopening of the Parade directed by Martin Duncan will take place in the newly renovated Great Hall. As soon as the doors open, the public will be welcomed to music by the Ensemble Intercontemporain conducted by Matthias Pintscher. They will perform Mercure by Erik Satie arranged by Sir Harrison Birtwistle.
At the opening of the show, the audience will find on stage the Marionetas Gigantes of Mozambique and their percussionists.
Then, the circus artists of Boîte Noire under the artistic direction of Stéphane Ricordel will perform on the music of the Ukrainian group Dakaha Brahka. They will celebrate circus arts through the story and dreams of a young refugee.
Finally, it will be the turn of the acrobats of Elizabeth Streb’s extreme action troupe to enter into action with a three-part program: Pipe Dreams, Small Rise and Landscape. These performers will perform vertiginous acts accompanied by a creation by Pierre-Yves Macé, commissioned by the Théâtre du Châtelet and entrusted to Matthias Pintscher and his Ensemble Intercontemporain.
