THE Institut français is thrilled to present la crème de la crème of French performing arts at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013, welcoming in its West End premises a stellar programme of theatre, music, circus and children’s shows by hand-picked companies from France and Belgium.
This year again, theatre takes a major place in the programme with three new productions premiering in the UK.
How to be a Modern Marvel® by Cie du Veilleur (Poitiers) is the English version of hit French comedy Prodiges® written by Mariette Navarro and translated by Katherine Mendelsohn. In this pacy, unconventional play, created to be performed away from traditional theatre spaces, three women – three delegates – welcome us to a presentation inviting us to share all the potential of an ever-changing world.
The possibilities are limitless and these three women are changing their lives one sale, one country, one past, one present, one future at a time.
Compagnie Les Labyrinthes (Bordeaux) presents the original multimedia creation Adam Smith, le Grand Tour. Mixing theatre and video, Mary and Fred take us on a Scottish pilgrimage to follow in the footsteps of the Scottish philosopher and economist.
World premiering at this year’s Fringe in its English version, Adam Smith Le Grand Tour is a humorous and caustic journey through time.
In her solo show Good Mourning! VOstBil, Brussels-based Swiss actress, Florence Minder, explores the grieving process through the eyes, and the mouth, of a totally nervous and frankly depressed American woman.
Minder challenges herself and her audience in this radical, sharp and funny performance where none of the regular theatrical expectations are ever met.
Continuing the French tradition of Café Concert, Nathalie Joly gives her voice to Yvette Guilbert in Je ne sais quoi. This diptych show mixing music and theatre presents the incredible life of Guilbert, undisputed Queen of Parisian cabaret in the late 19th century, friend of Sigmund Freud, pioneer of feminism and inventor of the ‘Rythme Fondu’, precursor of poetry slam.
Two episodes packed with the witty, mischievous songs of Guilbert, extracts from her correspondence with Freud and anecdotes about her life.
The Institut français also welcomes the physical theatre show Cru by Toulouse-based company Fet a Mà. Using circus as a way of describing and sharing intense emotional worlds, Fet a Mà exposes humanity’s inner fragility and vulnerability with an astounding physical performance mixing expressions of dance, theatre and acrobatics.
Finally, on the children front, the puppetry company Le Petit Monde is back with Lapin the French rabbit in Lapin wants Breakfast, a fun and interactive play to introduce tiny ones to French.
Since its return on the Fringe in 2011 with the site specific creation Two Johnnies live upstairs, the Institut français has built a reputation for excellence with a French flavour. In 2012, the programme featured the sell-out show Jacques Brel: in song and dance and the critically acclaimed theatre productions ROCK and Elephant Man.
Vincent Guerin, director of the Institut francais, explains: “We have been committed to presenting very high quality shows at the Institut over the past two years and I am glad those efforts did pay off. Having such talented performers as Nathalie Joly and Cie du Veilleur willing to perform with us next August – and being so enthusiastic about it! – makes me think it will definitely be a very special Fringe edition.”
The full programme for the Institut français d’Ecosse Fringe 2013 is now on sale at www.edfringe.com and at the Institut : 0131 225 5366
Please visit www.vivelefringe.org and follow us on Twitter for exclusive updates: @vivelefringe
For more information, interview requests and HD images, please contact Vanessa Bismuth: pr@ifecosse.org.uk/ 0131 225 5366
Institut français d’Ecosse/ Venue 134 – 13 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7TT. Box Office: 0131 225 53 66 Mon – Sun 9.30 am – 9.00 pm.
ENDS
Note to editors:
The Institut français is the agency of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs with responsibility for cultural activity outside France. In Scotland, the agency is represented by the Institut français d’Ecosse (Edinburgh) which promotes French language and culture by providing French courses and organising events (film screenings, talks, exhibitions, concerts, etc.). It also aims to encourage cross-cultural exchange between France and Scotland, in cooperation with Scottish Francophile institutions.
Additional information is available on www.ifecosse.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @ifecosse.
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Contact: Vanessa Bismuth
Phone: 0131225 5366
Email: pr@ifecosse.org.uk
Website: http://www.vivelefringe.org
