Les vies de Léon

Les Vies de Léon recounts the successive exiles of a young man in his twenties, who left Poland to escape the first antisemitic actions targeting Jews as early as the 1930s.

From 1929 to 1950, Léon must repeatedly flee to escape relentless persecutions. With him, we embark on an initiatory journey, witnessing his coming of age amid the relentless shocks of history. At his side, we follow the paths of exile forced upon many Jews between the 1920s and World War II—from Poland to France, through in Belgium. During the war, we imagine his flight toward Spain and then to Palestine. The wanderings of our main character are inspired by real events, corroborated through archive documents uncovered by the historian Laurent Joly.

The show is available in a theatre version (conventional theatres) or a touring version (multi-purpose rooms in schools, village halls, gymnasiums, etc.).

A binaural creation for young audiences.

For ages 9 and up.

Time: 1 hour.

Created on 28 and 29 November and 1 December 2023 as part of the Roulez jeunesse festival at Le Grand R – Scène nationale de La Roche-sur-Yon.

Adaptation, text and direction Julie Bertin and Jade Herbulot

With Loïc Riewer alternating with Etienne Galharague and Pierre Duprat

And the voice of Nada Strancar and the children’s voices of Avigael Chauvin, Joachim Chauvain, Esther Herson-Macarel Eskenazi, Volodia Lourdel

Assitant director Jan Czul
Trainee director Anouk Hourdin Solovieff
Historical councel Aude Vassallo
Costumes and masks Pauline Kieffer
Scenography Pauline Kieffer, Auriane Lespagnol
Light design, stage management, lighting desk Julien Ménard
Sound design Vanessa Court
Sound controls Cédric Giscos
Sound engineer from Radio France Frédéric Changenet, Ivan Charbit, Étienne Colin

Production La Générale de Production

In partnership with Le Birgit Ensemble

Co-productions Le Grand R and Radio France

Administration, production Jérémy Pouilloux – La Générale de production / jeremy@lageneraledeproduction.com / https://lageneraledeproduction.com

With the support of CENTQUATRE-Paris, Théâtre Paris Villette and the City of Paris

Operation supported by the French government as part of the ‘Expérience augmenté du spectacle vivant’ (Enhanced Live Performance Experience) programme of the French cultural and creative industries (ICC) sector 2030, operated by the Caisse des Dépôts.

© David Fugère