Paris: a new version of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Lucernaire theater

Marie Gicquel, edited by Gauthier Delomez 6:21 a.m., February 14, 2023, modified at 6:22 a.m., February 14, 2023

The troupe of young actors stands in front of the audience.

Spectators have five minutes to choose their cast of characters from Shakespeare's most legendary play,

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Until April 16, the Théâtre du Lucernaire, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is offering a new and interactive version.

The staging allows spectators to choose their Juliet and their Romeo, and one evening, during a performance which Europe 1 was able to attend, two women interpret the cursed couple of lovers.

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"The actors first learned the text, then the choreography, the fight scenes", explains Romain Chesnel, co-director.

"We want our show to offer a unique performance every evening, that there is something special that is created between the actors and the spectators."

The most coveted role is not that of Romeo or Juliet, but that of Brother Laurent, "more relaxing", believes Romain Chesnel.

5,040 possible combinations

This spontaneous casting therefore offers the play 5,040 possible combinations and allows the actors to play roles that were inaccessible to them.

"In theater school, when you have a certain appearance, you are predefined to play something, so when you are a woman who weighs more than 90 kilos, you are predestined for servants", says Caroline de Touchet, the second director stage and actress.

"Before, I weighed 40 kilos more and I was told that I would never play Juliet", she recalls, "but I had this desire for 'Romeo and Juliet' because it is a bit of revenge personal, and beyond that, it's the idea of ​​saying that everyone can play Juliette."

The elaborate staging offers a serious but also dusted-off rereading, supported by actors who are all very fair, involved and dynamic.

The public comes out happy and can even keep their ticket and come back to see a different

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Romeo and Juliet, at the Lucernaire theater in Paris until April 16.