Hansel and Gretel is about isolation and the possibility of overcoming it, and about our relationship with morality: what aspect of the morality with which we have been imbued, very often to our own cost, persists in us despite all opposition?
Following a forbidden love, a brother and sister have become distanced from one another since childhood. Years later, they meet in the cellar of the family home to consummate their love in secret. The story takes place on their wedding day. In order to make it an occasion, they have invented a cast of guests whom they themselves have filmed and played on camera. A throng of friends, cousins and relations on parade in the intimacy of their cellar. But as the evening progresses, the guests become less friendly and the skeletons do not take long to come out of the closets… They will become prisoners in a game of their own making.
In the centre of the stage is a large decorated wedding table is. The actors/characters are sat in the middle. Sitting imposingly alongside them are seven television screens showing close-ups of their guests faces. The audience assists in a game of identity hide-and-seek in which the actors/characters struggle with their own production and enter into fierce combat with themselves. A perpetual mise en abîme, the set is at the centre of a plot with multiple layers.
Highly impressive, the new production from Jean-Benoit Ugeux and Anne-Cécile Vandalem continues their exploration of solitude which began with Zaï Zaï Zaï Zaï. We encounter an isolated couple, this time confronted with their wedding guests. But nobody is there: the married couple have played and filmed their guests themselves. The synchrony between the actors and the tv screens is staggering. The sense of coldness which it creates is equally incredible. Our attention gets lost somewhat, but the mind seethes as we gradually understand the profound reasons behind all these goings on. A production which is as distressing as it is majestic.
Laurent Ancion, Le Soir, 2006.
« Prix de la découverte » aux prix de la critique 2007
Concept, text, direction Jean-Benoît Ugeux, Anne-Cécile Vandalem
Scenography Jean-Benoît Ugeux, Anne-Cécile Vandalem
Props Séverine Closset
Images Federicco D’Ambrosio
Régie générale Pierre Kissling
With Jean-Benoît Ugeux, Anne-Cécile Vandalem
Création 2006
Production déléguée Théâtre de la Place
Coproduction Théâtre de la Balsamine, Cie Résidence Catherine.
Hansel et Gretel (II) REPRISE
with Selma Alaoui, Cédric Eeckhout.
Création 2008
Production déléguée Théâtre de la Place
Coproduction Das Fräulein (Kompanie).
Avec le support de la fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, service Théâtre.
8 – 18 November 2006– Théâtre de la Place dans le cadre du Festival Emulation (Be)
8 November – 2 December 2006 – Théâtre de la Balsamine (Be)
6 – 27 July 2007 – Théâtre des Doms (Fr)
6 – 12 mars 2008 – Théâtre de Namur (Be)
20 & 21 March 2008 – Le Carré des Jalles – Service Culturel (Fr)
25 March 2008 – Cluny Culture, Office Intercommunal de la Culture de Cluny et du Clunisois (Fr)
28 March 2008 – Service culturel du Crous – Le Trioletto (Fr)
1 – 4 April 2008 – La Rose des Vents – Scène nationale de Villeneuve d’Ascq (Fr)
15 April 2008 – Mairie de Saint-Gratien (Fr)
7 – 12 Aprill 2008 – L’Eden & PBA- centre culturel régional de Charleroi (Be)
23 – 30 April 2008 – Théâtre de la Place (Be)
13 May 2008 – Théâtre Jean Arp, Clamart (Fr)
5 – 7 November 2008 – Maison de la culture de Tournai (Be)
13 November 2008 – Théâtre de Cusset (Fr)
18 November 2008 – Théâtre de Chartres (Fr)
20 & 22 November 2008 – Théâtre des Feuillants, Dijon (Fr)
25 – 28 November 2008 – Théâtre du Parc d’Andrézieux-Bouthéon (Fr)
2 December 2008 – Amphithéâtre Le Pont-de-Claix (Fr)
5 December 2008 – Théâtre Jean Marais de St-Fons (Fr)
9 – 11 December 2008 – Centre culturel Marc Sangnier, Mont Saint-Aignan (Fr)
13 December 2008 – Théâtre-cinéma Paul Eluard de Choisy-le-roi (Fr)
16 – 17 December 2008 – Le Radiant, Caluire et Cuire (Fr)
13 & 14 January 2009 – L’Athanor, Scène Nationale d’Albi (Fr)
16 January 2009 – MJC de Rodez (Fr)
20 January 2009 – Théâtre de la Maison du Peuple de Millau (Fr)
20 January 2009 – Centre culturel René Char Dignes les bains (Fr)
12 & 13 March 2009 – Espace Duesberg de Verviers (Be)
17 March 2009 – Portbail (Fr)
19 March 2009 – Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin (Fr)
24 March 2009 – Théâtre d’Arles (Fr)
26 & 27 March 2009 – Centre culturel de la ville de St Chamond (Fr)
31 March 2009 – Centre Culturel La Passerelle, Florange (Fr)
2 April 2009 – Auditorium de la Louvière, Epinal (Fr)
7 & 8 April 2009 – Espace Jean Legendre, Festival les Composites, Compiègne (Fr)
10 April 2009 – Scènes Mitoyennes, Caudry (Fr)
14 April 2009 – L’Atelier à Spectacles de Vernouillet (Fr)
17 April 2009 – Forum Rexy de Riom (Fr)
24 April 2009 – Théâtre de la Méridienne, Luneville (Fr)
29 April 2009 – Théâtre du Saulcy, Metz (Fr)
5 May 2009 – Théâtre Apollinaire de la Seyne-sur-Mer (Fr)
10 May 2009 – Centre culturel régional de Dinant (Be)
17 May 2009 – Le Théâtre des Bergeries de Noisy-le-sec (Fr)
20 May 2009 – Centre culturel de Jouy-le-Moutier (Fr)
26 May 2009 – Maison des Arts de Thonon les Bains (Fr)
20 October – 28 November 2009 – Théâtre le Public, Bruxelles (Be)
9 & 10 December 2009 – Le Volcan – Scène nationale du Havre (Fr)
