HEN
HEN is a Swedish pronoun which entered their dictionary in 2015 and designates a person who is either male or female.
It is often used in scholastic manuals working with less discriminatory pedagogy.
This creation is the result of research, labs dealing with questions of identity and gender, facing off against research on the origins of subversive puppet theatre.
HEN is a larger-than-life exuberant and outrageous diva, ever virile in heels, singing about love, hope, bodies and sexuality with absolute freedom. It’s with humor and derision, and through the songs and his hybrid identity that we meet HEN.
This creation relates to a musical story which was sourced in Berlin cabaret of the 30s and in current queer performance, off-the-wall cabaret channeling the dreams of Björk or the wisps of smoke of Brigitte Fontaine.
The project references a community which has been discriminated against, as well as old quarrels, unfortunately still valid politically and artistically. When searching for identity, or seeking absolute answers, HEN is perhaps an out-of-the-ordinary character, one not seeking either definition or norms. The character is multiple, transformable.
HEN
World premiere 2019
Ages 14 & up
Conception, direction Johanny Bert
In collaboration with Cécile Vitrant
Puppeteers Johanny Bert (voice of “HEN”), Anthony Diaz
Live music Guillaume Bongiraud (electro-acoustic cello), Cyrille Froger (percussion)
With the lyrics of Brigitte Fontaine, Marie Nimier, Prunella Rivière, Gwendoline Soublin, Gérard Gustin, Laurent Madiot, Jacques Mareuil, Alexis Morel, Pierre Notte, Yumma Ornelle
Musical arrangement Guillaume Bongiraud, Cyrille Froger
Fabrication of puppets Eduardo Felix
Lifting of HEN Laurent Huet
Vocal coach Anne Fischer
Dramaturg Olivia Burton
Light design Johanny Bert, Gilles Richard
Sound design Frédéric Dutertre, Simon Muller
Costumes Pétronille Salomé assisted by Lune Forestier, Solène Legrand, Marie Oudot, Carole Vigné, Romain Fazi
Puppeteer assistant Faustine Lancel
Set construction Fabrice Coudert assisted by Eui-Suk Cho
Administration, production, touring Mathieu Hilléreau, Les Indépendances
Production Théâtre de Romette
Coproductions Le Bateau Feu – Scène Nationale Dunkerque, La 2Deuche – Lempdes
Partners La Cour des Trois Coquins – Clermont-Ferrand, Le Mouffetard – Theatre for the art of Puppeteering – Paris, Le Carreau du Temple – Paris – Accueil studio
Le Théâtre de Romette is supported by the DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, by the state Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and by the city of Clermont-Ferrand. Johanny Bert is an Associated Artist at Bateau Feu – Scène Nationale Dunkerque.
