Redefining Iphigenia: Racine's Bold Retelling of a Greek Tragedy

2023-11-11 10:41:09

photo Laura Bousquet

IPHIGENIE is a world at a standstill. As the Greek fleet prepared to set sail towards Troy, the wind dropped suddenly, bringing the machine of conquest to a standstill.
Consulted in secret, the soothsayer Calchas reveals the only remedy for the crisis: to sacrifice young Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, to the gods.

In this rewriting of Euripides, Racine boldly changes the nature of the drama and removes Iphigenia from her fatal destiny.

In the midst of the disaster, there stands a power: that of women.
Clytemnestra, by her revolt against the oscillations of her husband and king, then by her questioning of the very existence of the gods.
Eriphile, in his relentless quest for identity, answers and justice. Iphigenia, by the immediate and unconditional acceptance of her sacrifice.
These three archetypal figures refuse to collaborate with a system where power breeds lies, betrayal and manipulation.

Iphigenia
Full text – Jean Racine

Direction, scenography, music – Clément Séclin

Light creation – Yoan Weintraub

Artistic collaboration – Arnaud Bourguignon

with – Sébastien Giacomoni, GHL, Grégoire Gougeon, Ophélie Lehmann, Margot Georgia Molvinger, Juliette Petiot, Jean Philippe Renaud and Baudouin Sama

photos Laura Bousquet

Theater Twelve
Monday January 15, 2024 – 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
6 by Maurice Ravel, Paris 12