Constance Debré. Her name may not mean anything to you and, yet, she is the granddaughter and niece of three ministers who marked the country’s history: Michel Debré, Prime Minister (1959-1962) then minister; Bernard Debré (Minister of Cooperation in 1994-1995) and Jean-Louis Debré (Minister of the Interior between 1995 and 1997).
One day, Constance decides to leave everything, abandons her job as a lawyer, her family, her privileges, refuses to lead the bourgeois life that was predestined for her. This is what “Name” tells, the story of a refusal, the story of a woman riddled with contradictions, who reveals her uncompromising intimacy, with rare radicalism and crazy freedom. This gesture of abandonment is today brought to the theater.
Love in chaos
In this show, directed by Hugues Jourdain, we talk about all that, but we also talk about love. This text was not chosen by chance: “There is a word that greatly relieves us about love. In the book, Constance came up with a theory on love or a philosophical way of seeing it that made Victoria and me decide. These words are what we would have liked to say if we had had his literary talent,” says the director.
Here too, it was love that guided his choice for the actress Victoria Quesnel. “I saw him at a show and broke down in tears at the end. We met and, little by little, we became friends. She’s the most impressive actress I’ve seen in my life. »
On stage, a chair for scenery and the sole talent of Victoria Quesnel. The actress embodies the heroine that is Constance Debré with an astonishing distance, particularly physical, since the two women are polar opposites. However, there is the same desire: to free one’s words.
Hugues Jourdain attended the Dance Conservatory before taking theater classes at the municipal youth office.
Loic Marie
Roots
It was in Rochefort that Hugues Jourdain took his first artistic steps. At the dance conservatory (1999-2002) then at the theater course of the municipal youth office (2002-2005) led by Catherine Sarezza.
A journey that started with laughter: “I think I got into theater because I already liked making my classmates laugh at school.” And from the first theater class, the young man likes what he sees, wants to play everything! Notable courses: when he left for Agen, Hugues Jourdain admitted that he had not succeeded in doing theater again until his arrival in Paris, at Cours Florent.
Today, he is preparing to show the Rochefort public his new show, “Nom”, at the Théâtre de la Coupe d’Or. A symbolic place: it was here that, as a child, he discovered a spectacle of light and shadow: “It was an upheaval for me. The room was incredible. And seeing people laugh on stage left an impression on me. My first memory as a spectator was therefore here. Being able to present my show here was my dream. »
The show “Nom” will be performed at the Théâtre de la Coupe d’Or (Rochefort) Tuesday January 14 at 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday January 15 at 7:30 p.m. Recommended for ages 14 and up. Duration 1 hour 15 minutes. Prices: from €9 to €27. Reservation on 05 46 82 15 15.
