Célimène
Anoushka Ravanshad
Eliante / Arsinoé
Fanny Dulin
Alceste
David Furlong
Philinte
Simeon Oakes
Clitandre
James Buttling
Acaste
Luca Fontaine
Oronte
Palmyre Ligué
Director
David Furlong
Scenic Artist
Annick Bosson
Lighting Designer
David Manson
Video Creator
Anaïs Le Pape
Stage Manager
Maëlle Lapous
Exchange Theatre would like to thank: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Unity Theatre Trust, , Clare Hannan at Hannan Images, Maylis de Rousiers, Dharshini Soundararajah, Kani Konaté, Clara Martins, Mathilde Aubourg, Poppy Burton Morgan, Alex Kanefsky, Michael Walling, Léo Elso, Matt Mella, Manon Laurelie, Benedict Cooper, Benjamin Hadley, Léonor Lemée, Sophie Marette, Morgane Hunsinger, Cécile Dorbessan, Allan Le Pennec, Maxime Chollet, Magali at the Chouette School and Thomas at O’Singulier Shoes.
Tell me about the piece and your vision for it. In a world of permanent fast breaking news and emptiness, Alceste remains the most loyal man, but he lacks only one virtue: indulgence for other’s behaviours. His search for genuineness against hypocrisy, interests and treachery is tormenting him and as if it could not get worse, he is in love with Célimène, a free spirit who entertains the surrounding vacuity, and makes it her business. For our time of ‘alternative facts’, the play finds unanticipated echo in the world today, transforming the 17th century society salon into a contemporary newsroom. It's Moliere vs Fake news ! What is the most astonishing is to see how relevant the play is today and how our relationship to news or gossip is just the same as it was in the 17th century. For us, the only difference is that now everything is public, and people are willingly exposing their lives on Facebook live or Instagram 'stories', so in addition to Molières take on falseness, I am exploring this idea that nothing ever happens really privately, any action is always relayed online, on a screen or seen from behind a window...
Did you have initial ideas about casting and what you wanted actors to bring to the piece? The fact that we are producing a double parallel production in English and French makes us reach for very singular profiles of actors: bilingual people with a commanding use of both languages. They're also really interesting people who generally have parents of two different origins, who grew up being multi-lingual, in a place which isn't their parent's culture, mostly. They fit a recently-named group of people called third-culture kids and they bring a great variety of identity to the piece. It's refreshing to finally see an Iranian Célimene or a Mauritian Alceste. It also simply reflects better the time we live in ! Have rehearsals altered your initial thoughts, at all? Ahead of rehearsals, Research and Developments on the piece have actually confirmed some Intuitions: our version could echo the current trend to make everything public through social networks. I doubted some of the ideas as if they were just gimmicks. But the tangibility of Molière's situation is astonishing, he speaks about such concrete and universal problems that the very modern and connected situations I tried to apply really lifted the actuality of the play. It even took us to the point of finding some more cutting-edge situations than what I initially imagined! I came to a scene with what I though was a very modern take on it and it became very dull and boring. But by looking at it closely, one of the character's lines reminded me of a very shocking 'snapchat' video I had seen and I thought “My god, this should actually be much more trivial. Moliere is totally ahead of us. You can't just look at transferring his scenes to modern settings, you have to transfer his exceptional events to shocking situations of our world.” Today, people go crazy over their webcams and Facebook live just like what he imagined for some his characters, they just did not do it to thousand of viewers.
Anoushka, a French-Iranian actress, started doing impersonations and accents at 5. She attended youth theatre/musical theatre programs from 9 to 15 (Sylvia Young, Cours Simon). After receiving a BA in Global Communications and working as a journalist, she attended the classical acting course at LAMDA. After several roles in tv series, short films and commercials, she acted in the feature A Beautiful Now which brought her to LA. She wrote, produced, co-directed and acted in the award-winning short “Connected”. Back in Europe, she produced commercials in virtual reality, acted in the tv series Le Bureau des Légendes (Canal +), Infamous Man selected in international festivals, and was a recurring anchor on the De 5 à 7 tv show (TF1). She can also be seen in commercials (Magnet Kitchens, Qatar Airways…)
Originally from Bordeaux, Fanny trained at the Bridge Theatre Training Company in London. After graduating, she was Christine in Miss Julie, Pilate in The Mystery Plays and Hippolyta in A Midsummer night’s dreams. She regularly works on film from shorts to big productions (Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton). In 2006, she co-founded Exchange Theatre for which she performs : Marthe in The Exchange (Paul Claudel), Bubble in Bal Trap (Durringer), Clytemnestra in the Flies (Sartre), Yolande in A Family Affair, (both English and French)… She also performed the comedy Post It at the Café Theatre des Chartrons in Bordeaux. She regularly works at the French Institute where she created their monthly French tales. Being resident there for a couple of year, she performed various parts during the “au theatre this Sunday” season. Recently, she performed the powerful one woman piece Médée Kali by Laurent Gaudet’s at the Voila Festival.
David is the founder and artistic director of Exchange Theatre. He trained in the National Theatre of Chaillot, Paris. Prior to his training, he was part of a rep company for which he performed many French classics: Moliere, Hugo, Marivaux, Musset... In Paris, he worked with Hans Peter Cloos, Deborah Warner and Michel Lopez. His theatre credits in France include Monserrat in Monserrat, the Father in Tatoo, Camille in A Flea in His Ear. In London, he performed in Love’s Labours Lost, The Rover, Red Oleander and the Rover. For Exchange Theatre, he was Lucien in Feydeau’s Madame Late’s Mother, Orestes in JP Sartre’s the Flies, Philippe in A Family Affair and Creon in Antigone. Along his writing work (he wrote 12 shows for a children season at the French Institute), he has directed many plays for the company: The Exchange by Paul Claudel, Bal Trap by Xavier Durringer, Business which he also wrote. He worked with Jo Hill-Gibbins on the Changeling at the Young Vic. Last summer, he directed The Doctor In Spite of Himself which was nominated for Best Director at the Offies. He is recipient of the Stage Directors Uk mentoring programme. He’s also a new recruit at the Royal Opera house as a staff director.
Simeon trained at Drama Studio London. Professional credits include: Aramis in the BBC event for their show The Musketeers; Mademoiselle Julie at The Barbican - starring Juliette Binoche; King Henry V and Lancaster in Henry VI at The Union Theatre; Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes at The Leicester Square & King's Head Theatres; Peer Gynt in Peer Gynt at Riverside Studios; Prince Cyril in Princess Ida at The Finborough; Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance at Tabard Theatre; Lt. Mulvaney in While The Sun Shines at Pentameters; Secret Cinema's The Battle of Algiers, Old Vic Tunnels; The Shawshank Redemption; Hotel manager in The Grand Eagle Hotel with Laura Marling; Adam in the premiere of new musical Love Beyond (transferred to Wembley Arena). He was also selected to attend a workshop at the Royal Shakespeare Company where he met and worked with Hannah Miller and Cicely Berry. He has a passion for classical theatre from around the world.
James was born in the UK and raised in France by British parents, after a foundation course at Rose Bruford he graduated with a BA in performing arts from the Universite Michel de Montaigne in Bordeaux. After graduating, he joined La Compagnie des Figures, a Bordeaux based theatre company and worked with them for 2 years working on Fassbinder's plays. After touring "Les Ordures, La Ville et La Mort" in several cities of the south of France, James decided to move to London, wanting to work in English. James theatre credits include Trisotin in Les Femmes Savantes by Moliere, Romeo in Romeo And Juliette by Shakespeare, Puck in Midsummer Nights Dream by Shakespeare, and most recently The Dwarf in Les Ordures, La Ville et La Mort by Fassbinder."
Luca was born in Paris from a French Father and an Italian mother. He completed his university degree in Italian Literature at the University of ParisSorbonne Nouvelle while training as at the Cours Simon in Paris and then at the National Conservatoire of Versailles. In London, he joined became a proud member of the National Youth Theatre. He has been working with the National Theatre, RADA, NYT and Identity School of Acting. In France, he has performed in a wide variety of plays by Molière, Victor Hugo and Bernard-Marie Koltès. He recently finished two shows here in London (Whispers of the Week/All the World's a Stage) and was in a show written by Brad Birch (United Agents), directed by Owen Horsley (RSC) with the National Youth Theatre. He is now thrilled to be part of this new project ''The Misanthrope'' being his favourite Molière's play.
The Misanthrope is Palmyre’s second production since graduating from London School of Dramatic Art (LSDA) last July. During the first week of May he will be part of a Reuben Feels immersive musical. Palmyre grew up in Lausanne (Switzerland) and moved to London in 2015. The young actor has never performed in French - his first language - and is thrilled about this opportunity. He would love to walk on both London and Paris’ stages.
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, aka Molière, was born in Paris in 1622. Still the most performed French playwright to this day, Molière distinguished himself by writing plays used laughter as weapon to fight the flaws of his time. The son of a rich tapestry maker, he renounces the family business and chooses theatre. He starts « l’Illustre Théâtre » in 1643 and the company travels in the provinces from 1646 à 1658. During these tough beginnings, he learns his acting craft and starts writing his first comedies (L’Étourdi, Le Dépit Amoureux...). In 1658, he performs le Docteur Amoureux for King Louis XIV and earns his protection. The King gives the company a home: Le Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon. Molière writes les Précieuses ridicules, his first great success. Then, Molière writes half-farces half-critics of his society, but keeps the King’s protection. L’Ecole des femmes,Tartuffe (which got banned for 5 years) and Dom Juan, considered pretentious plays at their time, make him now the greatest artist of this period. In 1665, the company is renamed « la Troupe du Roy ». Molière becomes very ill in 1666. Severely weakened, he manages to write The Doctor in Spite of Himself. After Amphitryon and The Miser, Molière writes his last play: The Hypocondriac. During its fourth showing, he collapses on stage and dies a few hours later in 1673. Molière’s company will go on to found the Comédie-Française after his death, still standing today as a National Theatre within the same walls
Having recently trained in scenic painting technics at DAP Studio in London, Annick works as a freelance artist scenic. Her first credit is set designer for Exchange Theatre on "The Doctor in Spite of yourself" and "Petit jeu sans conséquences". She was part of the construction team for Iris Theatre on "Treasure island" in july 2016. She now works for Gemstage in various locations like the Barbican, the London Fashion weeks and was employed full time at the Queen's Theatre for their annual pantomime "Cinderella" last December. She is currently involved in rebuilding the Jorvik in York after the flood of last year. She is part of RMA Attraction Theme Park where she is scenic artist assistant.
David was born in Scotland but has spent the majority of his life living in Switzerland where he went through all of his education in French. It was there that he first started working in and being passionate about theatre. David came to London a few years ago to receive a formal training in theatrical lighting and now has a BA(hons) in Lighting Design from Rose Bruford College. He is continuously working around Europe and the United Kingdom as both a lighting designer and a technical manager
We would like to dedicate the performances to John Cooper.
Exchange Theatre is an international company established in 2006 in London in order to translate and produce unknown or rare international plays in English. With the use multilingualism and a strong imagery, the productions offer a true sensorial experience. Led by David Furlong and Fanny Dulin, the company translated and produced, for the first time on the off west End stages, plays from major French playwrights like Paul Claudel, Georges Feydeau, Jean-Paul Sartre and Xavier Durringer (London and off Broadway). Beside the professional company, their education department offers drama classes in French and also teaches French through drama in schools and nurseries across the UK. Their studio space is based in London Bridge at the heart of London. Exchange Theatre was resident company at the French Institute in London for two years. The work started as English adaptations then evolved towards a unique bilingual experiment. The response was very positive, moving from the site specific library to the Ciné Lumiere auditorium. But it was noticed that the understanding is universal whatever the language. This body of work should be also seen by more people than the French community. Each year, the company produces the Bastille Festival, where the professionals and amateurs share the programmation of a theatre. In 2016, Moliere’s The Doctor In Spite of Himself was played alternately in English and French by the same cast over four weeks and was nominated for an Off West Award for Best Direction. 2017 is the 10th edition of the festival. Find us on www.exchangetheatre.com, facebook, Instagram, twitter, Tumblr: Exchange Theatre
James Buttling, Luca Fontaine, David Furlong, and Simeon Oakes’ shoes are graciously provided by
www.o-singuliers.com