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Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles

Pur présent (A Pure present)

La Prison, L'Argent et Le Masque
Olivier Py

16 > 19.01.2019
Theatre

Composed of three pieces Pur présent (A Pure present) reminds us of Aeschylus’ tragedies that Olivier Py has been translating and producing for the past ten years. This closeness with the ancient poet breached his aesthetics as did his work within prison walls. For the playwright and director of the Avignon Festival, the works issued from this connection, in this case La Prison, L'Argent et Le Masque, are opportunities to streamline his theatrics and sharpen his tongue.

For “this tragedy of our pure present” in which “the smallest gesture makes us guilty,” Olivier Py uses a small number of powerful characters and extreme situations for an atmosphere of fierce urgency and brevity: an inmate and a chaplain, a banker and his son, a masked man and a crowd, a prison on fire, gunfire, a hidden revolution. All participate in oratorical jousting in which the threads get interwoven and respond to each other. All ponder the same question which is outside morality and the law: “How does one live worthily?”

Calendar

  • - 19:30
  • - 19:30
  • - 19:30
  • - 19:30

Information

Language

FR

Duration

3 x 50'

Venue

Studio

Sound level

category 2

Cast

Text and direction
Olivier Py

Set design by an idea from
Pierre-André Weitz

Direction assistant
Neil-Adam Mohammedi

With
Dali Benssalah, Nâzim Boudjenah de la Comédie-Française, Joseph Fourez (replaced by Neil-Adam Mohammedi on 18 january 2018), Guilhem Fabre (piano)

Production
Festival d’Avignon

Co-production
Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisbonne)

With the support of
WBI - Wallonie Bruxelles International

Thanks to
Guillaume Bresson represented by la Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Bruxelles

Text published by
Pur présent de Olivier Py, éditions Actes-Sud Papiers

Trilogy
La Prison
L'Argent
Le Masque

© Gloria Scorier