LETTERS FROM MY FATHER

Première at the Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionettes, Charleville-Mézières (FR), September 2023.

Public: 9 years old and up

Estimated duration: 1:15

In 1959, I’m seven and we, my father, mother and their five children move from Brussels to Léopoldville in the Belgian Congo.

In 1960, the Belgian Congo achieves independence, I’m eight and we are sent to our uncle Pierre’s, priest of the small village Dongelberg. Our parents remain in the Congo. We become the children of the priest.

For a year, we receive, week after week, letters from our father on aerogramme paper, and sometimes a letter from our mother.

I collect these 46 letters which will be the starting point for this creation.

The woman of seventy that I have become now desires to have a conversation with that young girl. Little Agnès will be a puppet manipulated by the big one.

Concept, text and performed by: Agnès Limbos

Privileged witness and dramaturge: Olivia Stainier

Artistic accompaniment: Sabine Durand

Lighting design: Nicolas Thill

Sound design: Pierre Kissling

Technicians: Nicolas Thill and Antoine Vanagt or John Cooper

Stage manager: Joël Bosmans

Costumes: Françoise Colpé

Constructions: Val Macé and Joël Bosman

Choreographic accompaniment: Nicole Mossoux

Administration/Production: Julie Feltz, and the Théâtre des Martyrs team

With the precious collaboration of Bénédicte Liénard (acting and relationship with the audience), Natacha Belova and Marta Pereira (puppet construction), Daphnée Beaulieux (wigmaker), Joachim Jannin and Joël Bosmans (object construction), Pablo Gershanik (intimate model), Neville Tranter (manipulation).

Co-production

Maison de la Culture de Tournai/Maison de création (BE)
Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes (FR)
Théâtre des Martyrs et Théâtre de la Montagne Magique à Bruxelles (BE)
La Coop asbl and Shelter Prod (BE)
Escher Theater – Théâtre d’Esch (LUX)

Support

marionNettes – festival international, à Neuchâtel (CH)
Vélo Théâtre, Apt (F)
taxshelter.be, ING et le Tax-Shelter du gouvernement fédéral belge (BE)
Wallonie-Bruxelles international – WBI (BE)
Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles – Direction du Théâtre (BE)

Teaser

Agenda of the show