Paul Auster in the theater, Marlon Brando in books, Bartabas on stage… The 5 cultural essentials

A New York trilogy: Paul Auster adapted for the theater

A New York trilogy available in three novels City of Glass, Revenants et The Hidden Room before being published in a single volume in 1987, Paul Auster became a world writer according to Duras's formula. Coincidence of life, Igor Mendjisky's project to adapt this literary blockbuster to the theater intersects with the death of the writer last spring whose mantra was: “Nothing is real except chance.” Here, everything is a Borgès-style labyrinthine investigation and multiplication of identities. On set, New York, a real character in the trilogy, serves as a setting with a red brick building. On the menu of this metaphysical thriller: narrative games and games of mirrors.

From November 14 to 30, theatredelaville-paris.com

Bartabas pays tribute to Persian women

Resumption this fall for our joy of the third part of Cabarets of exile dedicated to Persian women, whether Afghan or Iranian. In 2021, Bartabas paid tribute to Klezmer music and Yiddish culture, in 2022 to the exile of Irish nomads. This time, he invited Iranian artists, musicians, singers and dancers who joined the troupe. His show with splendid images summons the Scythian civilization based on matriarchy. A nomadic people for whom the horse was a symbol of equality between genders. With these half-woman, half-horse warriors, Bartabas makes their cry of revolt heard.

From November 8 to December 31, bartabas.fr

The intimate is revealed at the Museum of Decorative Arts

A transversal exhibition, like a journey, which runs from the 18th century to the present day. 470 works bear witness to the evolution of intimacy over time. In bulk: the room photographed by Henri Cartier-Bresson or Nan Goldin, from licentious books to sex-toysfrom 19th century wrought iron beds to the closed bed of the Bouroullec brothers, from the walkman to social networks, from the commode to the urinal for women… There are paintings and photographs as well as art objects decorative and everyday. New proof that new technologies have caused a revolution in intimacy.

Until March 30, 2025, madparis.fr

Céline Laguarde, a pioneer of photography in Orsay

Who knows Gracieuse Céline Laguarde de Camoux (1873-1961) known as Céline Laguarde, the only woman of pictorialism, an international artistic movement which characterizes photography and whose golden age was at the beginning of the 20th century? This is all the merit of the Musée d'Orsay, which has started work of promotion and visibility since 2015 with «Who is afraid of women photographers? 1839-1919. The retrospective “Céline Laguarde Photographer (1873-1961)” is part of this enterprise. After a century, his figure emerges from the dustbin of history. Let us point out that in her time she was recognized and was even considered a major photographer of her time. 130 original prints bring together portraits, model studies, landscape compositions… We understand the photographer's virtuosity in the field of non-film art processes which are considered today as sophisticated printing techniques. This retrospective is a first!

Until January 12, 2025, musee-orsay.fr

All Brando in one book

2024: both the 100th anniversary of the birth and the 20th anniversary of the death of Marlon Brando. A myth as the title of this beautiful book suggests – All Brando – divided into three parts: the bio, the portfolio of the most beautiful photos of his career and the detailed analysis of his filmography by Guillaume Evin, cinema specialist, James Bond expert and fan of Marlon Brando. Everything is dissected here from the life of this sex-symbol planetary and male counterpart of Marilyn Monroe. “Of all the people I met, Marlon Brando was the one who came closest to genius,” said Elia Kazan. An actor named desire.

All Brando, the dark angel of Hollywood192 pages, 39,95 euros, glenat.com