Thailand and France share a tradition and a passion for puppetry. Although the French Guignol celebrated his 200th birthday in 2008, there is a new generation of artists in France who are creating radical change in the realm of puppetry. One of the most innovative genres is perhaps the theatre of objects. Puppets are replaced by objects, which are mostly recycled and used for purposes far removed from their original ones, and the puppeteer’s talent does the rest. In France many companies specialize in this art. You loved the Aïe Aïe Aïe Company, who visited us last year. Come and discover the incredible universe of the Compagnie à.

MAUVAISE GRAINE  
Mauvaise graine  is a show inspired by Andersen’s tale “The ugly duckling”, with a cruel and moving social message, revolving around four seasons. How will we make it if we are a hairy, stinking and awkward web-footed animal?  Mauvaise graine  talks about how others (society, neighbours, family) view the different person, the person who doesn’t conform to what is seen as “normal”. It develops a theme very relevant to today’s world. Who are the “ ugly ducklings” today? Who decides whether a person is different, ugly or “beautiful”?

The Cie. à was founded by Dorothée Saysombat and Nicolas Alline in December 2003 in Angers, out of a desire to explore various forms of expression, through the interaction between the artist and the object being manipulated, the interaction with the audience, sound and space. This explains their preference for the theater of objects, clowns, animated forms and small movements. To the company, it is important to meet with an audience that is not accustomed to going to places conventionally linked with art and culture. They have chosen to focus on an intimate exchange with audiences. After creating  La Chambre 26” in 2003, “Ô” in 2005, “L’Ôbservatoire Crosporg” in 2006, the Compagnie à created their fourth show “Mauvaise Graine” in 2009.

Ticket purchase: on site (at the venue)
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
General public (above 10 years)
Admission fees: 300 THB (100 THB for members and students)

Creation and acting : Dorothée Saysombat > Music created and played by : Scott Taylor > Direction : Nicolas Alline and Dorothée Saysombat > External inputs by : Jacques Templeraud > Choreographic inputs by : Yumi Fujitani > Régie : Isabelle Fuchs > Lights : Rodrigue Bernard / Cie à > Puppets and accessories : Géraldine Bonneton and Dorothée Saysombat > Decor : Yves Perey > Costumes : Mathilde Gallay-Keller > P roduction assistance : Illusion & Macadam. Thanks to Julien Mellano (Cie Aïe Aïe Aïe) for his inputs

Coproduction (in France) : Le Carré / Scène Nationale de Château Gontier (53), Théâtre de la Marionnette in Paris, Théâtre de l’Hôtel de Ville in St Barthélémy d’Anjou > Support from : DRAC Pays de la Loire, Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire, Conseil Général du Maine et Loire, City of Angers (FAC).