Determined to reconcile humanity with its ineluctable fate, stage director Philippe Quesne summons dancing skeletons, spinning spectres, and a small group of fifteen pianos playing mad music from beyond the grave. Through this twilight carnival, he exorcises our anxieties without ever resorting to tragedy or tears. Inspired by the phantasmagorical imagery of Robertson – the 18^th century Belgian artist and engineer of the magic lantern* – Quesne has dreamt up a poetic cabaret populated by spirits and supernatural visions.

*A 16^th century special effects device that projects miniature paintings from glass plates onto a screen.

• Distribution

  Conception, directing, scenography : Philippe Quesne

  Artistic collaboration : Élodie Dauguet

  Sound creation : Pierre Desprats

  Lights : Nico de Rooij

  Set construction : Atelier du Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne

  Production : Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Vivarium Studio

• Mentions

  With Fondation d’entreprise Hermès as part of the program New Settings

  The Cercle des mécènes support Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne for this show

  Coproduction Bonlieu, Scène nationale Annecy Les Spectacles vivants, Centre Pompidou Festival d’Automne in Paris La Rose des vents, Scène nationale Lille Métropole Villeneuve d’Ascq (in construction)

  This show is supported with the projet PEPS as part of the european program of cross-broders’ cooperation Interreg France-Switzerlang 2014-2020

  Photo : © Mathilda Olmi

• Around the show

  Wednesday October, 5th: Meeting the team after the show