La renverse

Premiered in May 2024 at Senlis with la Faïencerie, théâtre de Creil.

shadow and music theater
a show for all ages
performed in the public space

A lighthouse keeper discovers the logbook of a lonely sailor. After reading the final pages, which evoke as much mystery as they do desperation, he decides to set off in search of the sailor’s sinking ship. This moment marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey that will take him to lands he once thought were beyond his wildest imagination.

Drawing on the tradition of the carnival arts and shadow theatre, this story is told by three musicians and three performers. Their stage is a travelling theatre installed in the public space, which lights up at nightfall. Poetic and dreamlike, the combination of shadow theatre, voice and music takes the audience on a journey of discovery through a fabulous universe that invites us to think about our world and to imagine the myriad of ways we can construct it.

Teaser for La Renverse

The show was imagined by: Erol Gülgönen, Séline Gülgönen, Florence Kormann, Christophe Pagnon, Claire Van Zande.

Its creation was a collective effort by: Erol Gülgönen and Florence Kormann (stage, set and shadow design); Christophe Pagnon and Claire Van Zande (text, voices and torch light design and production); Séline Gülgönen, Fabien Guyot and Jean Lucas (musical composition); Frédéric Laügt and Corentin Vigot (sound design); Nicolas Dalban-Moreynas (lighting design) and Violaine de Maupeou (costumes).
Research and construction of the scenic structure: Nil Obstrat, an artistic and technical creation centre dedicated to street arts, Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône.

Manipulation: Erol Gülgönen, Florence Kormann, Christophe Pagnon
Music: Séline Gülgönen (clarinet), Fabien Guyot (percussion), Jean Lucas (trombone, accordion, conch shell)
Lighting and sound: Frédéric Laügt
Stage manager: Donatien Letort, Cécile Mazelin (alternating)
Production and distribution: Christelle Lechat
Production and administration: Susanna Hsing

With help from: Baptiste Bouquin (outside ear), Martin Maniez (paint), Léo Maurel (conch shell instruments), Thibault Moutin (lighting), Philippe Smith (voice), Marine Somerville (colorization).

Co-production and residencies:
Espace d’Albret, ville de Nérac (47) • Espace Périphérique, co-géré par La Villette et la Ville de Paris (75) • La Faïencerie, théâtre de Creil (60) • La Lisière, lieu de création en Île-de-France pour les arts de la rue et les arts dans et pour l’espace public, Bruyères-le-Châtel (91) • Le Sablier, Centre national de la marionnette, Ifs et Dives-sur-mer (14) • Le Théâtre-Sénart, scène nationale (77) • Les Tombées de la Nuit, Rennes (35) • Nil Obstrat, centre de création de Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône (95) • PIVO, Pôle itinérant en Val d’Oise avec Points communs, scène nationale de Cergy-Pontoise/Val d’Oise (95) • Risotto, réseau pour l’essor des arts de la rue et de l’espace public en Île-de-France

Grants:
• Ministry of Culture - National grant for creations in street and circus arts (2024)
• Distribution grant from the City of Paris
The company has been supported by the DRAC Île-de-France since 2020 and its activities have been funded by the Région Île-de-France since 2024.

Financial information and technical rider available upon request