Hear ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the castle of Blandy-les-Tours during the winter of 1360, during the Hundred Years' War. Viscount Jean II de Melun left to negotiate in England to free the King of France Jean II Le Bon, a prisoner there. His return is expected at his fortified castle.
In the immersive show “Enchanted Blandy, a Christmas in Danger” offered on the site from this Saturday, November 30, the public is invited to share this moment at the big fair where everyone is preparing for the Christmas party. Feet in the straw, looking at the towers magnified by the blue lighting, spectators join delegations sent by each lord allied with the Viscount of Melun to take part in the festivities.
By the light of candles placed on the ground, in small groups, they discover various scenes of daily life, in the vegetable garden, in the tavern… But as soon as they arrive, strange events occur. Discomfort, rumblings in the sky… A black magic seems to be at work and is endangering the castle and its inhabitants! We must save Christmas! What will happen? Mystery !
Two journeys, two different stories
“The idea is to connect History and the magic of Christmas… When the department of Seine-et-Marne (owner of the site) launched this public market, it immediately spoke to us. We are history buffs. Our core business is bringing the castles to life,” enthuses Marie Escriva, producer and director with Pascal Barbe and Victor Lelong within Deathscape Productions.
The public already owes them two successful immersive shows at the Château de la Motte-Tilly in Aube: “Disparitions”, in 2022 and 2023, then “Bal & Masques”, in 2024. Marie Escriva insists on the immersive aspect which involves the public. “It’s like a journey through time…” When booking, spectators can choose between two routes, that of the lords Charles de Blois and Jean d’Arbois or that of the lords Louis II of Bourbon, Bertrand du Guesclin, etc. . “Two different journeys, therefore two different stories, with actors who will vary depending on the dates, and, for all, an identical ending. It’s how you get there that’s different.”
Under the medieval costume, an insulated t-shirt!
Until January 5, the 1 hour 15 minute performance mobilizes a total of 215 volunteers and eight professional actors, distributed according to the dates and times of the shows. “This involves residents of the region and forms a community around the castle. People create connections, friendships,” emphasizes Marie Escriva, who received up to 350 responses to her call last summer!
The volunteers present are very motivated. This is the case of Mathilde, 30 years old, from Fontainebleau. She plays Léonce who has a mishap in the tower… “I've never done theater, I'm giving it a go! », she laughs. “What I like is being part of a positive and caring project, where the collective once again becomes a fun playground and sharing. Given the news, it feels good…” says Sabine, from Melun. She plays Hildegard, the vegetable garden assistant. To face the cold of this medieval winter, she invested in mittens and an insulated t-shirt to wear under the costume!
Volunteers take over the castle
Retired from Combs-la-Ville, and member of an amateur theater troupe, Michel became an archivist in Blandy. Coming from Meaux, Jacques and Michel perfectly play the drunken customers of the tavern. “We love live shows. We participated in the historic spectacle of Meaux. We wanted to diversify. There’s a good atmosphere here, it’s nice! » Residing in Vert-Saint-Denis, Romane and Lili, twins aged sixteen, also embarked on the adventure, the first already doing theater. Their father joined them: “I joined in. This place must live!” »
The diversity of the geographical origins of the volunteers delights Véronique Veau, vice-president of the department in charge of culture. “They come from everywhere. This shows that Blandy unites and the volunteers take ownership of the castle! » An immersive show, a very popular formula, already exists in Champs-sur-Marne over three different eras. “Here, in Blandy, we are in the middle of the Middle Ages,” she says. This show is scheduled for three consecutive winters.
Reservation required on billetterie.chateau-blandy.fr. Information at 01.60.59.17.80.
