Invited by the Comédie-Française to direct its actors, Ivo van Hove chose to adapt The Damned for the stage. Using the screenplay rather than Visconti's film as a starting point, he tells the story of the Essenbecks as Nazism triumphs in Germany, in a show whose scenography borders on installation art. To protect their interests, the steel tycoons of the Essenbeck family see no other solution but to ally themselves with the new regime and murder the patriarch, old Baron Joachim, disgusted by the idea. Intrigue and machinations, betrayals and murders: the appointment of the new head of their steel empire will turn into a ritual in celebration of Evil, in which the corruption of the relationships between individuals echoes the cruelty and brutality of the political context. In this struggle for survival, against all odds, it is Martin – the incestuous and paedophiliac progeny of powerful Baroness Sophie – who will manage to eliminate all his opponents and become a zealous servant of the regime, ready to reign on the empire he inherited. He will however have to pay a high price, living a cold life irremediably devoid of love, goodness, and beauty.
Comédie-Française
Gone is the time when the actors of the Comédie-Française were almost all recruited among graduates of the French National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Paris, or of the former Ecole de la rue Blanche, now known as ENSATT. The 39 sociétaires and 20 pensionnaires of the company now come from various backgrounds, sometimes even from abroad. Simul et singulis – together but unique – their careers evolve through their meetings with the various directors invited to work with them. Every one of those meetings is unique, shapes their acting style, and strengthens the personality of this troupe like no other in France.
Distribution
Direction Ivo van Hove
Stage design and lights Jan Versweyseld
Costumes An d'Huys
Video Tal Yarden
Music and sound concept Eric Sleichim
Dramaturgy Bart van den Eynde
With the Troupe of Comédie-Française : Sylvia Bergé, éric Génovèse, Denis Podalydès, Alexandre Pavloff, Guillaume Gallienne, Elsa Lepoivre, Loïc Corbery, Adeline d'Hermy, Clément Hervieu-Léger, Jennifer Decker, Didier Sandre, Christophe Montenez
And Basile Alaïmalaïs, Sébastien Baulain, Thomas Gendronneau, Ghislain Grellier, Oscar Lesage, Stephen Tordo, Tom Wozniczka
With Bl!ndman [Sax] : Koen Maas, Roeland Vanhoorne, Piet Rebel, Raf Minten
Production
Production Comédie-Française
With the sponsorship of Grant Thornton and of Mr and Mrs Henry Hermand
With the support of Spedidam at Festival d'Avignon
The script Les Damnés is published in n°634 of Avant-Scène Cinéma.
Les Damnés is subject to a Pièce (dé)montée, pedagogical file created by Canopé.