In 1984, Heiner Müller, after an insolently long relationship with Shakespeare, some of whose tragedies he had already "rewritten", gave his version of Titus Andronicus. The play, Anatomie Titus/ Fall of Rome, was first performed in 1986 in Bochum, directed by Karge and Langhoff. Defined as a theatrical commentary, this play retains some of the original text, citing it almost in its entirety, mixing it with remarks that analyse it, amplify it and create a play within a play. Sixty-seven per cent is Shakespeare's, thirty-three per cent is Müller, approximately. The tragedy is one of the bloodiest of the Elizabethan period. Titus Andronicus, a Roman general, conquerer of the Goths, tackles the reactions of the "Barbarians" and the conspiracies within his entourage. The number of scenes that portray the atrocities increase, peaking with a display of cannibalism that recalls that of the Atrides of Greek mythology. Heiner Müller, travels through history and relates the end of the Roman Empire to the simmering suburbs and the stadiums of ordinary violence. In his staging of this play, Philippe Vincent marries the architectural style of the era of Shakespeare with film and video techniques. Live and filmed performances, intertwine and push the work into the hidden corners of its maze-like structure. This is the French interpretation, by a troupe from Saint-Etienne, of this vampiric script written by the great Heiner Müller.It is the first time the play has been performed in France.
Distribution
based on : Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare
translated from German by : Jean Louis Besson and Jean Jourdheuil
stage direction Philippe Vincent
with the artistic collaboration of : Bertrand Saugier
stage design : Jean-Philippe Murgue
costumes : Cathy Ray
lumière : Hubert Arnaud
cinema and video images : Pierre Grange
editing and projection : Cécile Massa-Trucat
music : Daniel Brothier
sound : Emmanuel Sauldubois
with : Stéphane Bernard, Daniel Brothier,
Yves Bressiant, Claire Cathy, Gilles Chabrier, Ewa Dewel, Anne Ferret,
Jean-Claude Martin, Laurence Olivier, Anne Raymond,
Bruno Riner and Léonore Grollemund
with the participation of : Emile Abossolo M'bo
Script published by : Editions de Minuit
Production
ce spectacle bénéficie de : l'aide à la création d'œuvres dramatiques du ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (DMDTS)
coproduction : Scènes Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse, Comédie de Saint-Etienne, Théâtre de Gennevilliers.
avec le soutien de : l'Adami, du Festival d'Avignon et l'aide de la Spedidam
Scènes est en convention avec : le minsitère de la Culture (DRAC Rhône-Alpes) et la région Rhône-Alpes
elle est subventionnée : par le conseil général de la Loire et par la ville de Saint-Etienne
remerciements à : Jean Jourdheuil, à la ville de Saint-Etienne, à toute l'équipe du théâtre de la Croix-Rousse, Bruno Brigaud et le Théâtre de Vénissieux, Virus Productions
Le texte édité : aux Éditions de Minuit