Tous des oiseaux

The fiery force of Wajdi Mouawad’s sweeping theatrical epics is back with a vengeance! The impossible destiny of two lovers, she an Arab, he an Israeli, caught in the vortex of endless war. Incredibly powerful, a tragedy unleashed in the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Secrets reverberate, the truth explodes, intimacy is shattered by world events.

Do our past and our origins define our identity? From New York to Jerusalem by way of Berlin, from love at first sight to a terrorist attack, from screams to bursts of laughter, the writer has created a gripping gaze that is embedded in the inextricable chaos of the Middle East. With its jumble of languages, it features an international, high-calibre cast, performers who have the blood of the characters in their bones. With Tous des oiseaux, Mouawad brings to light the frontiers of the inexpressible, the painful impossibility or reconciling sworn enemies, leaving us inconsolable.

Produced by La Colline – théâtre national
Written and directed by Wajdi Mouawad
Performed by Jalal Altawil + Jérémie Galiana + Nelly Lawson + Victor de Oliveira + Leora Rivlin + Judith Rosmair + Darya Sheizaf + Rafael Tabor + Raphael Weinstock
Direction Assistant Valérie Nègre
Dramaturgy Charlotte Farcet
Artistic Advisor François Ismert
Historic Advisor Natalie Zemon Davis
Original Music Eleni Karaindrou
Set Design Emmanuel Clolus
Lighting Design Éric Champoux
Sound Design Michel Maurer
Costume Design Emmanuelle Thomas
Make-up and Hair Cécile Kretschmar
Translation Uli Menke (into German) + Linda Gaboriau (into English) + Jalal Altawil (into Arabic) + Eli Bijaoui (into Hebrew)
Costume Design Assistant Isabelle Flosi
Text Assistant Audrey Mikondo
Surtitles preparation and operation Uli Menke
Manager Stefan McKenzie Main + Frédéric Gourdin
Stage Manager Christian Ménauge
Sound Manager Sylvère Caton
Video Manager Igor Minosa + Ludovic Rivalan
Lighting Manager Gilles Thomain
Lighting Technician Olivier Mage
Stage Carpenters Yann Leguern + Harry Toi + Franck Bozzolo
Dresser Isabelle Flosi
Props Isabelle Imbert
Set Construction atelier de La Colline – théâtre national

Original Music recorded at Sierra recordings (Athens)

The text of Tous des oiseaux is published by Actes Sud-Papiers / Leméac.

Presented by La Presse+ with the support of The Cole Foundation + Institut Français (Paris) + Service de coopération et d’action culturelle du Consulat général de France à Québec in association with Place des Arts + Carrefour international de théâtre (Québec)

Written by Diane Jean
Translated by Neil Kroetsch

Premiered at La Colline – théâtre national, Paris, on November 17, 2017

With the support of