Do you know how many plays you've performed in the Hautes-Pyrénées so far?
I don't know exactly, there are at least forty. I work a lot in the Hautes-Pyrénées, but also with companies in the Gers and Landes regions.
How long have you been involved in theater?
Theater has been a part of my life for a very long time. It started with a summer camp in the village where I lived. The two counselors did theater, so we did theater with them. We started a small group of teenagers with them, and then, one thing led to another, and I drifted off and went professional with them.
Which plays have been the most memorable in your career?
There are quite a few because, looking back at what we've done, there are many things that I really enjoyed. Like "Otto, Autobiography of a Teddy Bear," which was an adaptation of the book by Tomi Ungerer, "Villains Villains" in the burlesque style, "All Alone," the adaptation of the graphic novel by Christophe Chabouté, which was also very enjoyable. "Women Standing" as well. "The Devil and Her Child" with the Compagnie des Jolies Choses, which was a beautiful revival with a wonderful text by Marie NDaye. There was also "Hamlet," which we staged at Le Pari, and it was great to work on a classic play with a quirky, clownish perspective. I could mention many shows that I enjoyed.
You are now performing at the upcoming "Tales in Winter" festival. Is presenting a story a form of theater?
No, not for me anyway. Storytelling already offers a close connection with the audience that I really enjoy. A near-intimacy. I simply have attentive ears listening to me. It's a freer form of storytelling because it's not at all about memorization; it's truly a path to follow, one you can stray from, return to, start again, and come back to. There's no stress from the script or the fear of a blank. I've been telling stories for 14 years, and I've never had a blank, never. Because if you know your story, forgetting something at a certain point isn't a big deal. You just have to go back, fill in the gaps, and start again.
And for the audience?
It opens up the imagination more. More so than theater. The characters aren't shown, nor is the setting. You only need two lines to sketch a character. With three details, you have a setting. And then it's up to the audience to create their own images.
Storytelling coexists with or replaces theater?
It coexists, but I think if it replaced theater, I wouldn't mind at all. I love theater, but the pleasure of storytelling is quite different. The dialogue is freer. And we completely efface ourselves to give free rein to the story. Ultimately, if we don't remember that it was us who told the story, it doesn't matter. The story is what stands before the storyteller because it is more powerful than the storyteller.
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