At the Bel Ébat Farm in Guyancourt (78), Ahmed Madani presents “Entrée des artistes”. Seven young actors, both boys and girls, express the sorrows and joys of life, especially the difficulties they face in pursuing a career that is meant to be a passion. A beautiful tribute to the pleasures of the stage.
Four girls and three boys make up the latest graduating class from the Lausanne Teintureries Higher Theater School, which has permanently closed its doors. Director Ahmed Madani, who was asked to stage their final performance, is accustomed to working with youth. After “Incandescences” and “F(l)ammes”, his latest creation “Entrée des artistes” adheres to the same rule! Despite never attending theater school and art never having a place in his family, the now recognized director asked himself one question when meeting this group of young people: how and why does one become a dramatist? Based on their diverse and complex answers, he wrote and composed this ode to theatrical art, staging it with tact and talent.
Named Jeanne, Aurélien, Dolo, Rita, Côme, Igaëlle, and Lisa, each of them delivers their monologue, in pairs or together, expressing, claiming, denouncing, and resisting. Despite fears and hopes for an uncertain future, they explode with conviction on stage, revealing all facets of their performance. From words to gestures, declaiming, dancing, singing—it’s refreshing, captivating, sometimes naïve yet compelling in both text and staging, always convincing in front of a youth transitioning into adulthood. Yonnel Liégeois
“Entrée des artistes, Ahmed Madani: on 24/03, 20h. La Ferme de Bel Ébat, 1 place de Bel Ébat, 78280 Guyancourt (Tel: 01.30.48.33.44). Théâtre Rutebeuf in Clichy (92), on 26 & 27/03. Sarah Bernhardt Space in Goussainville (95), on 31/03. Théâtre de Sartrouville et des Yvelines in CDN (78), on 02 & 03/04. L’Avant-Seine in Colombes (92), on 14/04. Théâtre de Cahors (46), on 05/05. National Stage of Narbonne (11), on 07/05. Théâtre de Charleville-Mézières (08), on 19/05. The text is available from Actes Sud-Papiers.”
