For years she has put all her energy into her “passionate profession”.
JI was 1 and 1/2 years old when I saw my mother on stage for the first time. I always knew that’s what I would do.”remembers Émilie Psaume, artistic director of the Théâtre de la Doline. “I went around the world by boat with my parents from the age of 10 to 14 and I officially started theater when I was 15. My parents created the Company 22 years ago, my mother is an actress for about 35 years, my father has been writing. The artist recounts her first solo performance at 16 entitled “It’s a little lion”written by his father.
After the baccalaureate, she attended theater schools in Montpellier and Paris and training in Lyon. It was when her parents retired that she took over the Company in 2013-2014 with her partner, Pierre Pineau. He writes, sometimes goes on stage, takes care of the administrative part and all the technical management while she plays, writes, gives lessons, etc.
Ten years ago, Émilie Psaume’s parents took over the Théâtre des Causses, which they renamed Théâtre de la Doline.
The artistic director talks about this place with eyes that shine. “With this room, we are lucky enough to be able to try things without taking too many risks. We do what we want there, it’s a great tool. It reflects our image. The four of us redid everything: the stands, entrance, control room, ticket office, etc. The fresco was made by my sister, it represents the Nice Opera. I played in small Parisian venues and I wanted to reproduce this intimate side. and cozy, that the people feel at home. That’s all we wanted.”
Focused on comedy, they offer a new show every year but also the well-known “Murder Party.” “It’s very fun, we laugh a lot. The public questions the suspects and solves the investigation. We offer 3-4 per year and the scenario changes each time. It’s our touch for Pierre and me, our brand of factory. We must be at 35 since we’ve been doing this. We’re inspired by detective series, atmospheres, periods.”
“Filling is complicated”
Émilie Psaume and Pierre Pineau are passionate. “We have no personal/professional limit, we never stop. At breakfast we talk about the Doline, we think about theater all the time. It’s a profession of passion, it’s great because We do what we like.”
With the tenth season of the room, Émilie Psaume remembers: “Before, we played in venues in Millau and throughout Aveyron. Now, we play every weekend at La Doline and occasionally elsewhere.”
The artist would like to point out the difficulty of getting started in this type of profession.
“Filling is complicated, especially in the first years. When I started, I played a play in Paris called “Je rame!”, there were 3 people some evenings,” she says, looking at the ceiling where the posters for all the shows are plastered.
Reflecting her evolution, she rewrote this piece, 10 years later, which became “I row but why not”, which she performed again in 2024.
