Theatre Alfred Jarry
| Le Théâtre Alfred-Jarry | |
| Formation | January, 1926 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Antonin Artaud, Robert Aron, and Roger Vitrac |
| Dissolved | July, 1929 |
| Type | Theatre companies |
| Purpose | Publication and performance of works associated with Surrealism, Theatre of the Absurd and Theatre of Cruelty |
| Location |
|
Key people | Antonin Artaud, Robert Aron, Roger Vitrac, Rene Allendy, Yvonne Allendy |
The Theatre Alfred Jarry was founded in January 1926 by Antonin Artaud with Robert Aron and Roger Vitrac, in Paris, France.[1] It was influenced by Surrealism, Theatre of the Absurd and the work of Alfred Jarry. It was foundational to Artaud's theory of the Theatre of Cruelty.[1][2] Though short-lived, productions were attended by an enormous range of European artists, including Arthur Adamov, André Gide, and Paul Valéry.[1]:249
Foundation
[edit]The theatre was a "collaborative project" between Antonin Artaud, Robert Aron and Roger Vitrac that "emerged from [their] collective interests."[3]:77 They named the theatre after Alfred Jarry, "a key figure in the French avant-garde known for his aggressive and biting satire of bourgeois social mores", best known for his play Ubu Roi.[3]:77
Productions
[edit]
Between June 1927 and January 1929, the Theatre Alfred Jarry staged seven productions over four seasons.[3]:77 They did not have a regular space or company, which changed depending on what was available.[3]:78
The theatre advertised that they would produce Artaud's play Jet de sang in their 1926–1927 season, but it was never mounted and was not premiered until 40 years later.[citation needed]
Season 1
[edit]- Théâtre de Grenelle (1 - 2 June, 1927)[4]:33
- Antonin Artaud's Ventre brûlé; ou La Mère folle (Burnt Belly, or the Mad Mother)
- Maxime Jacob (Musical Composition)
- Edmond Beauchamp (Le Roi)
- René Bruyez (Prédestine de l'Opium)
- Max Joly (Doux Forniente)
- Laurent Zacharie (Mystére d'Hollywood)
- Yvonne Vibert (La Reine)[1]:254
- Robert Aron's Gigogne[1]
- René Lefèvre (Gigogne)
- Geymond Vital (Le vieux domestique)
- Yvonne Vibert (La Nourrice)
- Edmond Beuchamp (Le Fils légitime)
- Max Joly, Ulric Straram, Laurent Zacharie, René Bruyez (Les Bâtards)[1]:254
- Roger Vitrac's Les Mystères de l’amour (The Mysteries of Love)
- Antonin Artaud's Ventre brûlé; ou La Mère folle (Burnt Belly, or the Mad Mother)
Season 2
[edit]- Comédie des Champs-Élysées (14 January 1928)[4]:34
- Vsevolod Pudovkin's Mother (1926)
- Act III of Paul Claudel's Le Partage de midi[1]
- Génica Athanasiou, Ysé[1]:256
Season 3
[edit]- Théâtre de L'Avenue, (2 & 9 June, 1928)[4]:33
- August Strindberg's A Dream Play
- Antonin Artaud (Theology)
- Tania Balachova (Indra's Daughter/Agnes)
- Auguste Boverio (The Poet)
- Étienne Decroux (The Quarantine Master)
- Raymond Rouleau (The Officer)
- Yvonne Save (Mother/Caretaker)
- Edmond Beauchamp
- Maxime Fabert
- Ghita Luchaire
- Ulric Straram
- Laurent Zacharie
- August Strindberg's A Dream Play
Season 4
[edit]- Comédie des Champs-Élysées (24 & 29 December, 1928, & 5 January 1929)[4]:34
- Roger Vitrac's Victor; ou, Le pouvoir aux les enfants
- Marc Darnault (the boy)[5]
- Roger Vitrac's Victor; ou, Le pouvoir aux les enfants
Notable Members
[edit]- Antonin Artaud - Founder, writer and creative director.
- Robert Aron - Founder, producer for first three seasons.[1]
- Roger Vitrac - Founder and writer.
- Yvonne Allendy - Treasurer. Madame Allendy also took up the role of the creation of promotional materials, such as posters and invitations.[6]
- René Allendy - Investor. Monsieur Allendy was a friend of Artaud, and took interest in his work. Allendy and his wife raised 3,000 francs as an initial investment for its first season.[7]
Actors
[edit]The following actors performed at TAJ:[4]:43
- Genica Athanasiou
- Tania Balachova
- Edmond Beauchamp
- Andre Berley
- Jeanne Bernard
- Domenica Blazy
- Auguste Boverio
- René Bruyez
- Henri Cremieux
- Max Dalban
- Dalle
- Marc Darnault
- Etienne Decroux
- Maxime Fabert
- Edith Farnese Gilles
- Jacqueline Hopstein
- Max Joly
- Elizabeth Lannay
- René Lefèvre
- Robert Le Flon
- Ghita Luchaire
- Jean Mamy
- Germaine Ozier
- Alexandra Pecker
- Raymond Rouleau
- Sarantidis
- Yvonne Save
- Ulric Straram
- Yvonne Vibert
- Geymond Vital
- De Vos
- Laurent Zacharie
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Jannarone, Kimberly (2005). "The Theatre before Its Double: Artaud Directs in the Alfred Jarry Theatre". Theatre Survey. 46 (2): 247–273. doi:10.1017/S0040557405000153. ISSN 1475-4533. S2CID 194096618.
- ^ Connick, Rob (2011-01-01). "Rethinking Artaud's Theoretical and Practical Works". Theatre Ph.D. Dissertations.
- ^ a b c d Morris, Blake (2021-12-30). Antonin Artaud. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-67097-8.
- ^ a b c d e Artaud, Antonin (1999-01-01). Collected Works, Volume 2. Alma Classics. ISBN 978-0-7145-0172-7.
- ^ Rose, Mark V. (1986). The Actor and His Double: Mime and Movement for the Theatre of Cruelty. ATRI Press. ISBN 978-0-9616087-0-5.
- ^ "Ressource "Allendy, Yvonne (1890-1935)"". IMEC. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "The Alfred Jarry Theatre". Association de la Régie Théâtrale. Retrieved 5 December 2019.