It all begins with a dictation. For some, an ordeal. For others, a chance to shine. Fortunately, this dictation is not marked. Then comes the confusion: why does “redcurrants” require an “s” in French for the jam, but not for the jelly? Had you noticed that the verb “alourdir”, meaning “to burden”, is written with a single ‘l’, while “alléger”, “to lighten”, takes two? A technical tool disguised as a marker of prestige, institutionalized spelling unleashes passions and bolsters the powerful. But maybe this is all a huge misunderstanding.
Led by a duo of linguists who joyfully make light of this weighted debate, this pop and subversive show shakes up the dogmas surrounding written norms… and with them, centuries of status quo. By deconstructing their arbitrary origins and fascinating absurdities, La Convivialité profanes the sacro-saint rules, and questions our strange persistence in attempting to comply.
Conception, writing and performance Arnaud Hoedt, Jérôme Piron
Co-direction Dominique Bréda, Arnaud Pirault, Clément Thirion
Video design Kévin Matagne
Technical advisor Nicolas Callandt
Artistic advisor Antoine Defoort
Assistant director Anaïs Moray
Technical direction Charlotte Plissart
Tour management (alternating) Charlotte Plissart, Clément Papin
Development and distribution Habemus Papam
Creation Compagnie Chantal & Bernadette (Brussels)
Coproduction En coproduction avec le Théâtre National/Bruxelles et L’Ancre/Charleroi et Hypothalamus renforcé. Avec le soutien du Théâtre La Cité/Marseille, de La Bellone/Bruxelles, de la compagnie La Zouze/Marseille et du Service de la Langue française de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles et du Centre culturel de Braine L’Alleud. Avec l’aide du Ministère de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (Service du théâtre).
With the support of Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI)
