Le Salon 2004

Le Salon marks the second part of a trilogy that started with Le Jardin in 2002 and ended with Le Sous Sol in 2007. This piece shows the mental, physical and financial decay of what was once a wealthy family. The aristocratic grandfather, a cornerstone of the family, unconsciously drags his children along with him as he tries to keep up appearances.

Set in a once opulent drawing room – now a symbolic glory hole – he slowly loses control of his house, his bladder and – ultimately – his mind. The househould he once led is now run by his offspring, who treat him as shabbily as they treat one another. Inspiration for Le Salon came from Le Salon de Musique from Satyajit Ray.

Le Salon was created collectively by the performers and premiered on 4 November 2004 at La Rose des Vents (Villeneuve d’Ascq, FR). The piece toured worldwide from 2004 until 2009, in Europe, South Korea and Australia.

Creation and performance
Gabriela Carrizo, Franck Chartier, Eurudike De Beul, Simon Versnel, Samuel Lefeuvre, Uma Chartier

Dramaturgy
Nico Leunen, Viviane De Muynck

Set design
Pol Heyvaert

Lighting design
Gerd van Looy

Sound design
Glenn Vevliet

Musicians
Carl Verbraeken, John Terlenka, Johannes Paulus Thiecke, Dimitri Timbremont, Wim Baeck

Acoustic recording
Jarek Frankowski

Sound engineer
Philippe Beloul

Technical director
Yves Leirs

Technician
Frederik Liekens

Coproducers
Tramway Glasgow, La Rose des Vents-Scène Nationale de Villeneuve d’Ascq, Le Réseau France des CDC