Press material
La Réunification des deux Corées/The Reunification of the Two Koreas
A theatrical creation by Joël Pommerat with Saadia Bentaïeb, Agnès Berthon, Yannick Choirat,
Philippe Frécon, Ruth Olaizola, Marie Piemontese, Anne Rotger, David Sighicelli,
Maxime Tshibangu
Light and set design Éric Soyer
Video Renaud Rubiano
Props Thomas Ramon
Costumes Isabelle Deffin
Costume assistant Karelle Durand
Seamstress Morgane Olivier
Wigmaker Estelle Tolstoukine
Music Composition Antonin Leymarie
Sound François Leymarie et Grégoire Leymarie
Recorded by
Joachim Florent (bass / double bass)
Jean Philippe Feiss (cello)
Guillaume Magne (bass / guitar)
Gérald Chevillon (bass clarinet / sax)
Guillaume Dutrieux (voice in the tuba / trumpet)
Mathieu Ha (voice of the she or he who sings - the role performed by Agnès Berthon), Jeanne Added
et Thomas de Pourquery (other voices)
Director’s assistants Lucia Trotta et Pierre-Yves Le Borgne
Directing intern Natacha Fleury
Costume intern Marion Cornier
Dramaturgical research Evelyne Pommerat
Sound research Alain Besson
Light operator Jean-Gabriel Valot
Stagehands Mathieu Mironnet, Pierre-Yves Le Borgne
Sound operator Grégoire Leymarie
Video operator Grégoire Chomel
Dresser and hairdresser Claire Lezer
Dresser Siegrid Petit-Imbert
Set construction les Ateliers de l’Odeon Theater of Europe with the technicians from the
Compagnie Louis Brouillard and the technical team of l’Odéon-Théâtre of Europe
Special thanks to Gwendal Malard, Cici Olsson, Guillaume Rizzo
An excerpt from “Scène de la vie conjugale” by Ingmar Bergman in Lucie Albertini Guillevic and Carl
Gustav Bjurström’s translation © Editions Gallimard
Production Odeon Theater of Europe, Compagnie Louis Brouillard.
Co-Production National Theater – Brussels, Folkteatern – Göteborg, Teatro Stabile di Napoli –
Naples, Théâtre français du Centre national des Arts du Canada – Ottawa, Centre National de
Création et de Diffusion Culturelles de Châteauvallon, la Filature Scène Nationale – Mulhouse, les
Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, le Parapluie (Centre des arts de Rue –Aurillac) in collaboration
with Teatrul National Radu Stanca – Sibiu.
With the support from the Culture Programme of the European Union, in the framework of the Villes
en scène/Cities on stage project. This project has been funded with support from the European
Commission. This publication (communication) reflects the views only of the author, and the
Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information
contained therein.
Joël Pommerat is Associate Artist of the Odeon Theater of Europee until June 2013, and the National
Theater of Brussels.
Developed at Ateliers Berthier / Odeon Theater of Europe
January 17, 2013
Running Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Compagnie Louis Brouillard
More information:
Anne de Amézaga +33 (0)6 81 24 28 34 / [email protected]
Isabelle Muraour +33 (0)1 43 73 08 88 / +33 (0) 6 18 46 67 37 / [email protected]
Biographical information
Joël Pommerat
Born in 1963. Stops his formal education at age 16. Becomes an actor at 18.
At 23, he devotes himself to a regular writing practice.
He studies and writes intensively for 4 years.
He directs his first text in 1990, at age 27, The Path to Dakar. Non-theatrical monologue presented at
the Théâtre Clavel in Paris. At this time, he also founds his company which he names Louis Brouillard.
Subsequent creations include The theater in 1991, 25 years of Leon Talkoi’s Literature in 1993,
Sweat in 1994 and The events in 1994. Various written texts and theatrical stagings emerge from a
process that’s beginning to define itself. The texts are written in conjunction with rehearsals with the
actors. All the shows are presented at Théâtre de la Main d”Or in Paris.
In 1995, he rehearses and develops the production Poles at Fédérés de Montluçon, which then runs
for two months at Théâtre de la Main D’Or.
This is the first artistic text which the playwright considered complete. And it is also the first text to
be published (seven years later in 2002 at Editions Actes Sud-Papiers)
In 1997, Thirteen Coneheads is developed at Fédérés and revived at Théâtre Paris-Villette.
The company then begins a long residence at Théâtre de Brétigny-Sur-Orge.
In 1998, he writes a radio play, called The Children, commissioned by France Culture.
He co-produces his play The Events for the radio the same year.
After the creation of Thirteen Coneheads and for the ensuing three years, until 2000, he focuses
exclusively on cinematic exploration. He directs several video shorts.
In 2000, he definitively abandons this path and returns to the theater.
He presents three stagings of his texts at Théâtre Paris-Villette. These include two “re-workings”,
Poles and Thirteen Coneheads and one new piece, entitled My Friend.
In 2001, the Louis Brouillard Company begins a tour of several of its shows. After this, the tours
continue to grow and expand without interruption.
In 2002, he develops Thanks to My Eyes, again at Théâtre Paris-Villette.
In January 2003, he develops What have we done? at the Comédie de Caen. This play is
commissioned by the CAF of Calvados around the theme of Parenthood This production is presented
in socio-cultural centers in the Caen region.
In January 2004, he develops Into the world at Théâtre National de Strasbourg. This marks the
beginning of international tours.
In June 2004, he develops Little Red Riding Hood at Théâtre de Brétigny-sur-Orge, the first
production developed for children and adults.
In February 2005,, he develops One-Handed at CDR in Thionville.
The company then embarks on a three year residence with the National Stages of Chambéry and
Savoie.
In January 2006, he develops The Merchants at the National Theater of Strasbourg.
He develops This Child in April 2006 at the Théâtre Paris-Villette, a reworking of the text What have
we done?
Into The World, The Merchants and Little Red Riding Hood are revived at the Avignon Festival in
2006.
In 2007, he develops I Tremble (1) at the Théâtre Charles Dullin in Chambèry.
That same year, the company embarks on a three-year residency with the Théâtre des Bouffes du
Nord and a new staging of This Child in Russian at the Théâtre Pratika in Moscow.
In March 2008, Pinnochio is presented at the Odeon-Theater of Europe, the second children’s
production.
In July 2008, I Tremble (2) and a revival of I tremble (1) are presented together at the Avignon
Festival.
I tremble (1 and 2) is revived at Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in September 2008.
In January 2010, Joël Pommerat develops Circles/Fiction at Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.
He is awarded the Molière for Best Company.
In October 2010, he develops a new staging of Pinnochio in Russian at the Meyerhold Theater in
Moscow in the framework of the Cultural Exchange Years between France and Russia.
He then embarks on a three year residency with the Odeon Theater of Europe and the National
Theater of Brussels.
In March 2011, he develops My Cold Room at the Berthier Studios of the Odeon Theater of Europe
For this production, he receives the Molière for the best living Francophone playwright and the
Europe New Theatrical Realities Prize.
The Louis Brouillard company also receives the award for Best Company in 2011.
He writes the book and stages the opera Thanks To My Eyes based on his play Thanks to My Eyes
(music by d'Oscar Bianchi) at the Aix Festival in July 2011. It is then presented at the Théâtre de
Gennevilliers and goes on tour.
In Fall 2011, he develops Cinderella at the National Theater of Brussels.
In December 2011, he develops the Big, Fabulous History of Business at the Comédie de Béthune.
Joël Pommerat is the Artistic Associate at the Odeon Theater until June 2013 and the National
Theater of Brussels.
All Joël Pommerat’s texts are published at Editions Actes-Sud Papiers.
Saadia Bentaïeb
Trained with Philippe Adrien, Robert Cantarella, Gabriel Garran, Marc-Michel Georges, Claude
Merlin, Ariane Mnouchkine. She has been performing since 1981, most notably in productions
directed by Philippe Adrien (Cami), Bernard Beuvelot (Patard), Maurice Attias (Fatima Gallaire),
Thierry Atlan (Feydeau), Archaos, Y. Poirier (Renaude), Ghislaine Dumont (Ionesco), Christophe Thiry
(Marivaux), Sabine Stepanoff, PA Sagel, Ghislaine Beaudout (Copi), Vincent Colin, Sophie Renauld
(W).
With Joël Pommerat (Poles, My Friend, Thirteen Coneheads, Thanks to My Eyes, What have we
done?, Little Red Riding Hood, Into The World, One-Handed, The Merchants, This Child, I Tremble (1
and 2)), Circles/Fictions, My Cold Room.
Agnès Berthon
She has worked with Christian Benedetti (Liliom, Les Démons, Ivan Le Terrible), R. Handlen
(Shakespeare, Pinter ; English-language workshops) In Brussels, she appeared in several short films
produced by l’A.J.C. including most notably, ones directed by Michel Caulea, T. Barbier, T. de Thier.
Performing artist/writer and composer who performs under the name of AGNES.
With Joël Pommerat (Poles, My Friend, Thirteen Coneheads, Thanks to My Eyes, Into The World,
One-Handed, The Merchants, This Child, I Tremble (1 and 2)), Circles/Fictions, My Cold Room.
Yannick Choirat
Former member of the permanent TNS troupe, he performed in several production directed by
Stéphane Braunschweig, Laurent Gutmann, Yann-Joël Collin, Eric Louis, Thierry Roisin, Nicolas
Bigards. On television, he was a series regular in the television show, Caméra Café. His film
experience includes productions directed by Jacques Audiard (De rouille et d’os) and Michel Leclerc
(Télé Gaucho).
The Reunification of the Two Koreas is his first collaboration with Joël Pommerat and the
Compagnie Louis Brouillard.
Philippe Frécon
Upon graduating from the CNSAD, Philippe Frécon worked with Stanislas Nordey (Bête de style),
Gildas Milin (Dans la jungle des villes, L’Ordalie, Le triomphe de l’échec, Le premier et le dernier),
Laurent Gutmann (Le Balcon, Œdipe roi, Les légendes de la forêt viennoise), Astrid Bas (Materiau
Platonov, Les trois sœurs) and Pierre-Yves Chapalain (La lettre, La fiancée de Barbe-Bleue, Absinthe).
The Reunification of the Two Koreas is his first production with Joël Pommerat and the Compagnie
Louis Brouillard.
Ruth Olaizola
Ruth Olaizola has recorded several plays for France Culture. She has also worked with Claude Merlin
(Les Eblouissements de M. Maurice, Nocturne à tête de cerf). She served as dramaturge for the
operatic show Don Quichotte and les tréteaux by Maître Pierre, directed by Jacques Falguière.
She also holds a doctorate for her research on the analysis of the problems of the actor in the XVIIe
century in the context of the theater of the Jesuits and their condemnation of of professional theater
(The Jesuits and Spanish theater during the golden age: theories and practices, 1588-1689).
In collaboration with Joël Pommerat, she directed several short films in the framework of a videotheater workshop in Brétigny-sur-Orge, and she performed in “A son,” a short film directed by Joël
Pommerat.
She has been collaborating with Joël Pommerat since 1994 (Sweat, Poles, Presence, Thirteen
Coneheads, My Friend, Thanks to My Eyes, What have We done? Into The World, One-Handed, The
Merchants, This Child, I Tremble (1 and 2)), Circles/Fictions, My Cold Room.
Marie Piemontese
In addition to productions by Pommerat, she has developed new work with Sophie Renauld in W
(2001) and Haunted (2003), with Solange Oswald in The Europeans by Howard Barker (1998), David
Noir in The Innocents (2003-2004), and on camera with Agnès Varda (A thousand and one Nigths1995), Emmanuel Mouret (Promène-toi donc tout nue ! - 1998), Her films for television include: Le
Malingot , directed by Michel Sibra (1994) and A Second Mama by Marc Angelo (1999), as well as a
dozen short films including Fonctions annexes by Pierre Pinaud (Talents Adami 2002) and Jeux de
mains by Jeanne Aslan (2004).
She wrote and directed an original production for the first time (2012) at Théâtre Paris-Villette :
entitled Phedra in the Morning.
She has been working with Joël Pommerat’s company since 1998. Most notably, she participated
in the productions, My Cold Room, I Tremble (1 and 2), This Child, The Merchants, One-Handed,
Into The World, Thanks to My Eyes, My Friend, and the revivals of Poles and Thirteen Coneheads.
Anne Rotger
Anne Rotger launched her career in 1988 under the direction of Jean-Michel Rabeux in “Le vide était
presque parfait” (1989), followed by “L'amie de leurs femmes,” by Pirandello (1990), Légèrement
sanglant (1991), Le travail du plâtre (1993), Arlequin poli par l’amour by Marivaux (2002), Le Sang des
Atrides based on Eschyle (2005). She worked with Alain Ollivier in L’Ecole des femmes (1991). She
worked with Anita Picchiarini in Le Bouc by W. Fassbinder (1992), Aux hommes de bonne volonté by
J.F Caron (1997), Electre by Hofmannsthal (1999), La Fin de Casanova by M. Tsvetaïeva (2004). She
worked with Philippe Berling Au rêve de gosse by Serge Valletti (1995), La Petite Catherine by
Heilbronn, La Cruche cassée by H. von Kleist (1998). She collaborated with Claire Lasne for Les
Acharnés by Mohamed Rouabhi (1995). With Gilberte Tsaï in La Main verte (1994), Sur le Vif (2003),
Villegiatura by Jean-Christophe Bailly and Serge Valletti (2005). With Michel Raskine, she performed
in Au but by Thomas Bernhard (2002). She participated in a project by R. Fichet Le Chaos du nouveau
(2000). Under the direction of Richard Brunel (2006), she performed in Gaspard de Peter Handke,
With Declan Donnellan, she performed in Andromaque (2007).
She worked with Joël Pommerat in Pinocchio, Thanks To My Eyes based on his play Thanks to My
Eyes (music by Oscar Bianchi) developed at the Festival d'Aix in July, 2011.
David Sighicelli
David Sighicelli is an actor who has performed in several productions directed by Pierre Martinez (La
Grammaire, Le Misanthrope et l’Auvergnat), Christophe Rauck Le rire des asticots, Sandrine Greaume
(L’Homme des bois), Christophe Feutrier (Mondes en passage, Un jour sans, Pour Louis de Funès) as
well as Philippe Ricard (Le Passeur, L’imparfait). With the Compagnie Sphota, he participated in the
development of several new productions including Lendemains qui chantent, Antigone-Orchestra,
Silence and Péripéties.
He has also directed two plays: Scènes de vie pour piano and deux voix and Max : dernière tentative
as well as three short films Dans la débine, Petit bonheur bourgeois and L’échange.
The Reunification of the Two Koreas is his first collaboration with Joël Pommerat and the
Compagnie Louis Brouillard.
Maxime Tshibangu
In the theater, he has worked with Jean-François Mariotti (Gabegie 09, Gabegie), Histoire du monde),
Léon Masson (La nuit s’est abattue comme une vache, Il faut penser à partir) and Sofia Norlin
(Klimax). He has also appeared in television series on France 2 (PJ, Boulevard du palais), Arte
(Ministeres) and Canal + (Pigalle la nuit). He appeared in a film by Cédric Klapisch (Paris) and Radu
Mihaileanu (Le Concert). He holds a masters in Contemporary Art History.
He is working with Joël Pommerat for the first time in The Reunification of the Two Koreas.
Tour 2013
Brussels (Belgium) - National Theater of Brussels
(+ 32 (2) 203 53 03)
March 19 to 29 2013 (relâche le 25)
Ottawa (Canada) - Théâtre français, Centre national des Arts du Canada
(+1 613 947 7000)
April 10 to 13 2013
Mulhouse - La Filature, scène nationale
(03 89 36 28 28)
May 14 and 15 2013
Göteborg (Sweden) – Folkteatern
(+46 031 60 75 75)
May 23 to 26 2013
Naples (Italy) - Festival of Naples
(+39 81 55 13 396)
du 6 au 8 juin 2013
Sibiu (Romania) - Teatrul National Radu Stancu
(+40 36 910 15 78)
les 15 et 16 juin 2013
Aurillac - (Festival International de rue)
(04 71 43 43 70)
du 21 au 24 aout 2013
Luxembourg - Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg
(+352 47 08 951)
October 24 and 25, 2013
Châteauvallon – CNCDC
(0494 22 02 02)
November 28, 29 and 30, 2013
CITIES ON STAGES / VILLES EN SCENE
The Villes en Scène/Cities on stage project, initiated by the Théâtre National/Brussels and supported
by the Cultural Programme of the European Union, brings together six theatres in Europe around the
question of "living together"
From 2011 and until 2016, different artists will bring their own individual, critical and poetic
approach to this evolving continent. Seven creative works are thus crossing Europe, of which two will
be presented this season at the Odeon Theater of Europe, The Reunification of the Two Koreas, a
creation by Joël Pommerat and Fragmente, a Lars Norén and Sofia Jupither (Sweden) project. As part
of this same wish for exchange, meetings and discovery, each theatre invites a group of young actors
from one of the partner countries to work for a month with a director, and local inhabitants are
included to accompany the young artists in their exploration of the city, of its cultures. In this way
Villes en scène/Cities on stage invites artists, young and old inhabitants to observe our continent and
to invent stories together which speak about Europe of today and tomorrow. The Odeon chose Joël
Pommerat and the decorative painter Frédéric Monnet to lead these workshops.
Creating an alive European theater repertoire
The European commission decided to fund the Ville en scène/ Cities on Stage,
network of theaters, that through dynamic, transnational collaboration, hope to develop a repertoire
of new European theater that is both very much alive and connected to the challenges of a continent
undergoing change and evolution.
Six theaters – Théâtre National / Bruxelles (Belgique), Teatro Stabile di Napoli «Mercadante»
(Italy),Teatro de La Abadia / Madrid (Spain), Teatrul National Radu Stanca Sibiu, (Romania),
Folkteatern / Göteborg (Sweden), Odeon Theater of Europe (France) – are mobilizing around a widescale program of actions over five years and will, through commissioning theatrical productions,
develop and circulate a new body of work dealing with critical questions related to living together in
the big cities of the Union. This partnership also aims to reinforce the connection between artistic
creation and citizenship, that on the one one hand implicates a significant number of important
citizens in the creative process, and on the other hand gives a decisive place to minority populations
by bringing their voices together with those of populations from other cities.
Impact a large public without compromising principals
The primary focus of the first stage in the Villes en scène/Cities on stage project is centered around
artistic development.
Seven theater artists were selected to examine the Europe of today. These artists were selected
based on their quality as writer/directors. They are individuals that develop powerful and unique
universes, and original writing, who are distinguished by their capacity to speak about the world of
today, and their ability to touch a large and mainstream audience without giving way to a facile or
populist approach.
They manage to marry artistic rigor with a genuine concern for accessibility, in order to speak to the
largest number of people possible.
The writer-directors (in chronological order of their productions) : Fabrice Murgia (Belgium) ; Lars
Norén (Sweden) ; Joël Pommerat (France) ; Gianina Carbunariu (Romania) ; António Araújo (Brazil) ;
Emma Dante (Italy) ; Frank Castorf (Germany).
The artists invited represent different nationalities in order to reflect the partnership that unites the
theaters. A Brazilian director, António Araújo, was also invited. The perspective of a creator coming
from another continent requires us to confront our own perceptions. The artists selected represent
different generations (There are 40 years of difference between Lars Norén and Fabrice Murgia who,
at age 29 ans, is the youngest artist involved in the project). Women, who are generally represented
less often in this type of artistic activity, are equally represented by the presence of artists Gianina
Carbunariu, Emma Dante and Sofia Jupither.