The children of Manuf should be sharp. Guided by French director Fanny de Chaillé, they rehearsed part of the spring for a creation that delves into the sometimes glorious, sometimes sulphurous history of an event launched in 1947 by actor and director Jean Vilar. At the beginning of June, they presented the show at the Théâtre de Vidy, before repeating it at the Théâtre Alambic in Martigny and at the Pavillon ADC in Geneva. Needless to say, they are ready for this baptism of fire.
Our photographer Christophe Chammartin invites you to discover the behind the scenes of this extraordinary creation.
Fifteen student actors delve into the memory of the Avignon Festival. Most of them knew nothing or almost nothing about an event that began in September 1947. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
The students of the Manufacture have appropriated sequences of shows that have marked the 77 years of existence of the festival. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
French director Fanny de Chaillé offered students improvisation themes linked to the history of the festival. These improvisations constituted writing material for the show. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
The work also consisted of immersing oneself in canonical scenes played by comrades. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
Pleasure of the game. The young actors from Manuf redirect historical sequences. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
Two students replay an extract from “La Chinoise”, the film by Jean-Luc Godard screened on August 3, 1967 in the main courtyard of the Palais des Papes, after “Messe pour un temps present”, a show by Maurice Béjart to music by Pierre Henry. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
After a successful improvisation, a student writes down her lines in her notebook. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
“Avignon, a school” alternates between theatrical and choreographic bravura pieces. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
The actors have drawn from the history of the festival scenes that touch them and which they replay in their own way. — © Christophe Chammartin / Le Temps
