Makbeth

an original creation by Munstrum Théâtre

based on William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth
Directed by Louis Arene

From the mists of an undefined moor emerges a violent and savage war. Following a bloody battle, Captain Makbeth encounters a supernatural presence that reveals to him that the crown will soon be his. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Makbeth, and driven by ambition, he murders King Duncan, who happens to be spending the night in his castle. Now on the throne, Makbeth is obsessed with consolidating his power and securing his position. He eliminates one by one his potential enemies and spirals into a cycle of violence that will ultimately lead him to madness. Just like Makbeth, men still massacre children in the name of peace, and beneath the veneer of our enlightened civilization, barbarity rumbles. How can we not recognize in today’s brutal global conflicts the murderous escalation of Shakespeare’s tragic hero?

We stage Makbeth because the pain of this world is unbearable.

Relentlessly, we confront violence head-on, the hell that humanity has created for itself. We strive to interpret the patterns that drag us into misery in an attempt to prevent their cyclical repetition. On the scale of human history, but also in our daily lives, in our relationships with others and with reality. Beyond a political fable, the play urges us to contemplate our own inner darkness—our relationship with power, ambition, and domination. The play stages the chaos born from our fantasies, when we lose our lives in an attempt to gain them, when the illusion of gain masks the risk of losing what we already have.

We stage Makbeth because the hell of this world is unacceptable.

But we also stage Makbeth because at Munstrum, our quest is for Joy. Why then plunge into this hell and tackle Shakespeare’s darkest play? Perhaps because, as he teaches us, darkness is filled with light, and without sorrow, there can be no true Joy. One is the condition of the other. By embracing the darkness and passing through it, we give our Joy its true value. When interpreted correctly, our sorrows become the material of our deliverance. Thus, our relentless need to play and to laugh will devour the darkness of the play and embrace the cosmic whirlwinds.

We stage Makbeth because we believe in the redemptive power of Theatre. For us, the stage is a sacred space that fosters empathy, transformation, and metamorphosis. The alchemist turns lead into gold. Through catharsis, Theatre transforms our sorrows by molding them, changing their very nature, and making them the prologue to our future joys. It is for us that Makbeth plunges into the horror of crime and dehumanizes himself. He sacrifices himself so that we, by witnessing his fall with dread, may become more human.

With Louis Arene, Sophie Botte, Delphine Cottu, Olivia Dalric, Lionel Lingelser, Anthony Martine, François Praud & Erwan Tarlet

Concept Louis Arene & Lionel Lingelser
Translation/Adaptation Lucas Samain in collaboration with Louis Arene
Co-direction Alexandre Ethève
Choreography Yotam Peled
Dramaturgy Kevin Keiss
Assistant Director Maëliss Le Bricon
Set Design Mathilde Coudière Kayadjanian, Adèle Hamelin, Valentin Paul & Louis Arene
Lighting Design Jérémie Papin & Victor Arancio
Original Music & Sound Design Jean Thévenin & Ludovic Enderlen
Costumes Colombe Lauriot Prévost assisted by Thelma Di Marco Bourgeon & Florian Emma
Masks Louis Arene
Headpieces Véronique Soulier Nguyen
Technical Direction, Construction, Figuration Valentin Paul
Smoke Effects & Props Laurent Boulanger
Props, Prosthetics & Puppets Amina Rezig, Céline Broudin, Louise Digard
Additional Props & Costumes Marion Renard, Agnès Zins, Ivan Terpigorev
Costume Interns Morgane Pegon, Elsa Potiron, Manon Surat & Agnès Zins
Lighting Interns Tom Cantrel, Gabrielle Fuchs
Costume Production supported by Les Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon
The backdrop The Orange Sky was created by Christian Fenouillat for La Trilogie de la Villégiature, directed by Claudia Stavisky.

General & Stage Management Valentin Paul
Sound Management Ludovic Enderlen
Lighting Management Victor Arancio
Costume & Dressing Management Audrey Walbott
Stage Management Amina Rezig

Administration, Production Clémence Huckel, Noé Tijou (Les Indépendances)
Distribution Florence Bourgeon
Press Murielle Richard

Production Munstrum Théâtre

Co-production: Les Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon · Théâtre Public de Montreuil, Centre Dramatique National · TJP, Centre Dramatique National de Strasbourg – Grand Est · La Comédie, Centre Dramatique National de Reims · La Filature, Scène Nationale de Mulhouse · Chateauvallon-Liberté, Scène Nationale · Les Quinconces et L’Espal, Scène Nationale du Mans · Théâtre Dijon Bourgogne, Centre Dramatique National · Théâtre Varia, Brussels · Malakoff Scène Nationale – Théâtre 71 · Le Carreau, Scène Nationale de Forbach et de l’Est mosellan

With participation and support from the DRAC Grand Est – Ministère de la Culture (Production Fund) · S.A.S Podiatech – Sidas · ENSATT Professional Integration Program · Ville de Mulhouse · Théâtre Dromesko · Melting Pot · Le Bercail (Marionette & Associated Arts Creation Hub) · Cromot (Artists & Production House) · La Maison des Métallos · Théâtre du Rond-Point, Paris

Munstrum Théâtre is associated with La Filature, Scène Nationale de Mulhouse, Théâtre Public de Montreuil (CDN), TJP CDN Strasbourg-Grand Est, and Les Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon. The company is supported by DRAC Grand Est – Ministère de la Culture & the Grand Est Region and receives operational support from the Ville de Mulhouse.

Duration : 2h15

CONTACTS

Administration, production, international touring Clémence Huckel, Noé Tijou : 01 43 38 23 71 / clemence@lesindependances.com – noe@lesindependances.com
Touring Florence Bourgeon : 06 09 56 44 24 – floflobourgeon@gmail.com
Press Murielle Richard : 06 11 20 57 35 – mulot-c.e@wanadoo.fr