A public restitution for the theatrical adventure Extrem’ado

A moment of theatrical creation for, by and with adolescents. Since Friday 1^is November, the Extrem’ado system – which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2024 – took over the Maison du Peuple theater. Nearly forty young people have been working for three days, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., to create a show that will be presented this Sunday, November 3 at 6 p.m.

Intense creation in three days

Within the walls of the theater, Saturday morning, small working groups are everywhere. Here, in the theater hall, his text is rehearsed. In the large room plunged into darkness, only the stage is lit and allows the actors to speak. Further down, in the studio, activity is also devoted to creation. For three days, the theater breathes with sensitive energy.

“The idea of ​​the Extrem’ado system is to have teenage volunteers, aged between 12 and 18 years maximum, work together around a text and its staging“, explains Maïlys Bessière, responsible for cultural actions and mediation within the theater. To do this, the young actors are divided into several groups and supported by four professional actors from Cie Création Éphémère.

Choir work

This year, it’s around the text Fugue by Michel Simonot that adolescents work. “The initial idea of ​​this text is “to move”, how we move, continues Thomas, one of the actors in charge of a group. It’s the story of a young man who runs away, it raises the question of where he left, why, how…”

A bit like ancient choirs, the young actors represent the words of “Jul”, the main character, friends of this character’s gang but also the narrators. “Each group speaks on the same dramaturgical line, adds Maïlys Bessière. With this project, young people learn to know themselves, learn a text, work on scenography, their acting…”

New participants

No need to be an experienced actor to take part in the scheme, which young people signed up for several weeks ago. They also met with the professional actors for the first time in mid-October, for a detailed presentation of the text and its intention. “Friday, they were able to communicate via video with the author”note Thomas.

If the actors are loyal to the Extrem’ado challenge – most participate in several editions, for example in 2024 half of the young actors are there for the first time – the public also responds. “Friends, family, but also everyone who finds it refreshing to have so many young volunteers on stage”supports the person responsible for cultural actions.

“A bit like a dream”

A little behind the participants, Maël strives to capture the work done during rehearsals. Since Friday, he has been following the young people in their work, the lens of his camera never far away. “I film these moments and then make a souvenir film for the participants, I already did that last year,” he explains.

A former participant in the system – he took part in five editions of Extrem’ado – Maël recognizes the qualities of this experience. “For me, the three days of Extrem’ado were a bit like a dream, he assures. Being on set was a highlight, and the audience is loyal, I remember seeing certain people every year I participated.”

The restitution of this new edition is planned this Sunday, November 3 at 6 p.m. at the Maison du peuple theater. Entrance is free. As a preamble to the young actors’ performance, a little surprise awaits the audience.