Philippe Quesne, one of France’s most important theatre makers, brings together a small, slightly eccentric community in his new work, which questions the role of art in everyday life with humour and melancholy. A subtle play about loneliness, community and the magic of everyday life. “Le Paradoxe de John” ties in with one of Philippe Quesne’s first plays, which captivated audiences in an unmistakable way: in 2007, in “L’Effet de Serge,” the director portrayed a lonely man who organises small shows for his friends on Sundays, inviting them into his unique and fragile fantasy world. In Quesne’s new work, the focus is now on a small group of friends who set up an art gallery together. A humorous and poetic universe emerges on stage, created from animated objects, a pianola and foam sculptures. The play once again explores the place of art in everyday life, while musical and visual inventions meet the poetically idiosyncratic texts of Laura Vazquez. Between effective effects and absurd situations, a theatre of intimacy emerges, bringing people and objects together in a shared, atmospheric composition and emphasising the necessity of the artistic act, however small it may be.

Concept, Direction, Stage: Philippe Quesne
Text: Laura Vazquez
With: Isabelle Angotti, Céleste Brunnquell, Marc Susini, Veronika Vasilyeva-Rije, Marc Chevillon
Costumes: Anna Carraud
Costume Assistant: Mirabelle Perot
Stage Management & Artistic Collaboration: François Boulet, Marc Chevillon
Technical Assistance: Thomas Laigle
Decorations: Marie Maresca
Production: Alice Merer / Vivarium Studio
Assistant Production: Mathilde Prevors
Music: Noel Boggs, Fred Buscaglione, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Friedrich Hollaender, Lucy Railton, Franz Schubert, Demetrio Stratos, Riz Ortolani
Thanks to: Zinn Atmane, Lola Bourdin (eniedocc), Jean-Charles Dumay, Léo Gobin, Sébastien Jacobs, Paul Nougé, Florian Sanchez (Eugène Blove), Lisa Sturacci, Maud Wyler, Julia Zastava

„Le Paradoxe de John“ receives funding from the anniversary program „100 Jahre Mousonturm“ by the cultural office of the city of Frankfurt am Main.

Coproduction: La Commune, CDN Aubervilliers, Festival d’Automne in Paris, Théâtre de la Bastille, Théâtre Garonne – Scène européenne, Maillon Théâtre de Strasbourg – Scène européenne, Maison Saint-Gervais – Genf, Kampnagel Hamburg.

Supported by: Région Île-de-France The Vivarium Studio company is supported by the Drac Île-de-France - Ministère de la Culture.