Le Sommet

  • Show
  • Theatre

Christoph Marthaler

Switzerland / Created in 2025

Christoph Marthaler follows six characters striving to rise above the fray for a high-level summit: a sharply humorous show blending theatre, music, and singing. 

Le Sommet, Christoph Marthaler ©Nora Rupp

Presentation

Every year, the world’s leaders gather for a high-level summit. Ahead of the delegations, six scouts are sent to lay the foundation for this meeting. They speak French, English, German, or Italian. Between private exchanges, public meetings, strategic committees, and crisis cells, their ramblings lead to absurd situations and irresistible performances. Christoph Marthaler, one of Europe’s greatest theatre directors, makes his return to Avignon. Playing on the double meaning of the word summit, the Swiss director creates a show combining theatre, music, and singing, where languages playfully clash. Through these six characters striving to rise above the fray, he observes humanity as it tries to organise itself in the face of those who sit at the very top, and whose vanity makes the future undesirable.

يعرض كريستوف مارثالي ستّ شخصيات تسعى وراء الأعالي للوصول إلى جلسةٍ في القمة: أداء يتميّز بالحس الفكاهي القوي ويمزج المسرح والموسيقى والغناء. 

Distribution

With Liliana Benini, Charlotte Clamens, Raphael Clamer, Federica Fracassi, Lukas Metzenbauer, Graham F. Valentine 

Conception and direction Christoph Marthaler
Dramaturgy Malte Ubenauf 
Scenography Duri Bischoff
Costumes Sara Kittelmann
Make-up and wigs Pia Norberg
Lighting Laurent Junod
Sound Charlotte Constant
Collaboration to dramaturgy Éric Vautrin
Assistant director Giulia Rumasuglia
Musical repeaters Bendix Dethleffsen, Dominique Tille
Trainee director Louis Rebetez
Production Marion Caillaud, Tristan Pannatier 
Props and set building Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
General stage management Véronique Kespi 
Stage management Mathieu Pegoraro
Lighting management Cassandre Colliard 
Sound management Charlotte Constant
Dresser Cécile Delanoé

Production

Production Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Piccolo Teatro di Milano Teatro d’Europa, MC93 Maison de la culture de Seine-Saint-Denis 
Co-production Bonlieu Scène nationale Annecy, Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Théâtre National Populaire de Villeurbanne, Festival d’Avignon, Maillon Théâtre de Strasbourg - Scène européenne, Malraux Scène nationale Chambéry Savoie, Les 2 Scènes Scène nationale de Besançon, tnba Théâtre national Bordeaux Aquitaine, International Summer Festival Kampnagel 

As part of the Project Interreg franco-suisse n° 20919 – LACS - Annecy-Chambéry-Besançon-Genève-Lausanne
With the support Pro Helvetia - Fondation suisse pour la culture pour la 79e édition du Festival d'Avignon

Practical infos

Pictures

Le Sommet, Christoph Marthaler ©Nora Rupp