Les Somnambules

Premiered in September 2015 at the Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes, Charleville-Mézières.

Shadow and music theatre
All ages (7 years and older)

An old neighbourhood destined for demolition makes room for a dehumanised modern city. But even the best-set plans cannot withstand the unexpected… As the night goes on and the city falls asleep, the dreams of its inhabitants intertwine and transform the city into a place of infinite possibilities.

Les somnambules evokes these contemporary urban transformations with irony and poetry, sketching a city whose many contours are redrawn by its inhabitants.

This story unfolds through a spectacular large-scale model of the city brought to life by shadows and lights, with four puppeteers and two musicians leading the audience into a swell of imagination.

Teaser for Les somnambules

Idea and design: Les ombres portées

Manipulation and lights: Erol Gülgönen, Florence Kormann, Marion Lefebvre, Claire Van Zande
Music and sound effects: Séline Gülgönen (clarinet, accordion), Simon Plane (trumpet, euphonium, percussion)
Lighting: Nicolas Dalban-Moreynas
Sound: Frédéric Laügt & Corentin Vigot (alternating)
Production and distribution: Christelle Lechat
Production and administration: Susanna Hsing

With construction help from Damien Daufresne, Grégoire Martin, Eric Patin, Céline Schmitt, Samuel Remy; with music help from Baptiste Bouquin, Léo Maurel; and also thanks to Laura Fouqueré, Emmanuel Kormann, Evelyne Lohr, Elsa Vanzande.

Team members who chose different paths in life: Jérôme Mathieu (lights), Cyril Ollivier (music).

A special thought to Olivier Cueto who passed away in March 2020. He was part of the invention and production of this show, and performed in it since its beginnings in 2015

Co-production and residencies:
APEAI et la Maison des Enfants du Quercy, Le Bouyssou • Le Colombier des Arts, Plainoiseau • Côté Cour, scène conventionnée jeune public, Franche-Comté • Espace Périphérique, Parc de la Villette - Mairie de Paris • La Ferme du Buisson, scène nationale de Marne-la-Vallée • Festival Momix et le CREA, scène conventionnée Jeune Public d’Alsace, Kingersheim • Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes, Charleville-Mézières • La Fonderie, Le Mans • L’Hectare, Vendôme • Hostellerie de Pontempeyrat • Le Magasin, Saint Loup Géanges • La Nef - Manufacture d’utopies, Pantin • Premières Lignes 2014, L’Atelier à Spectacle, scène conventionnée de Dreux • Le Tas de Sable, Amiens • Théâtre de l’Agora, scène nationale Evry Essonne • Théâtre du Soleil, Paris • L’Usinotopie, Villemur-sur-Tarn

Grants:
• Arcadi Île-de-France
• Conseil Général de l’Essonne
• Ministère de la Culture - DRAC Île-de-France

Financial information and technical rider available upon request