Hécube, pas Hécube at Comédie-Française - Le 13ème Art Theatre

Location

Le 13ème Art Theatre
Place d'Italie, Centre Commercial Italie Deux 75013 Paris
Capacity 900 seats

Duration

2 h 05

No intermission

Details

Classic theater

For an informed audience

In French surtitled in English, French and French Sign Language

This show is surtitled in English with smart glasses!

Thanks to the “panthea.live” system provided by our sister company Panthea, smart glasses for surtitling are available for Hécube, pas Hécube! While the performance is in French, it is entirely accessible to non-French speakers and hearing-impaired audience members as the smart glasses allow viewers to experience the show with surtitles in English, French, and French Sign Language (LSF). This highly innovative technology is available exclusively by Panthea and Theatre in Paris.

Highlights: Hécube, pas Hécube at the Comédie-Française

We invite you to come and discover Hécube, pas Hécube, on the magnificent stage of the Comédie-Française, a Greek drama revisited by the Portuguese director Tiago Rodrigues.

Hecuba, Queen of Troy, is a tragic mythological character who has inspired many authors. Tiago Rodrigues, with his singular vision, offers us a new interpretation of this incredible character.
In this play, Hecuba is no longer just a victim of the Trojan War. She becomes a symbol of human resilience in the face of adversity. Exiled, enslaved, she bears witness to the cruelty of war and its consequences for individuals.

Far from the great epics, Rodrigues favours a more intimate approach, focusing on Hecuba's emotions and suffering. The director blurs the boundaries between past and present, mythology and reality. Through the character of Hecuba, Rodrigues questions the nature of violence and its consequences for societies.

Seneca's text, adapted by Rodrigues, is emotionally powerful. Rodrigues' direction breathes new life into this ancient myth. The themes explored in the play (war, exile, revenge) resonate powerfully with our contemporary world.

Hécube, pas Hécube is a play that invites reflection and emotion. It reminds us that the tragedies of the past continue to haunt us and that humanity, despite all its suffering, is capable of resilience.

Reviews

Contemporary

"The writer-director has added a contemporary twist to the script and the ancient tragedy" (Translated from French)

Fabienne Arvers, Les Inrockuptibles

Fascinating

"The whole drama works like a well-oiled machine. It's clear, intelligent and fascinating." (Translated from French)

Hubert Stoecklin, Culture 31

Le 13ème Art Theatre

Place d'Italie, Centre Commercial Italie Deux 75013 Paris

History and Fun Facts about Le 13ème Art theatre

Opened in 2017 by a French-Canadian theatrical group, this contemporary venue was once home to a movie theater featuring one of the biggest screens in the country. After the cinema closed down, the venue remained empty for over a decade before undertaking a complete renovation by the same architects responsible for the Bercy Accor Arena and the Institut du Monde Arabe. Featuring an architectural motif of mirrors, light enters this venue from all angles, despite its location underneath a bustling shopping center. The venue was saved from becoming similar another store or fitness center with the simple notion that "Paris can never have too many theaters."

One of the founders of Le 13ème Art theatre stated at the inauguration ceremony that “Theatre means sitting in the darkness to hear the light” and this modern venue reflects precisely this notion. The Le 13ème Art theatre is one of the most contemporary Parisian venues, and its location by the busy shopping center off the beaten tourist tracks means you get to see a local side of Paris. Another fast fact? It’s right by the Parisian Chinatown, so enjoy some culinary treasures from around the world before or after the show!

Featuring both a large amphitheater with 900 seats and a smaller theater 150 seats, the entire venue can be privatized and adapted to accommodate specific needs. The show programme featured an eclectic and international mix, embodying the notion that no artistic barriers and imaginative boundaries are to exist in this new Parisian cultural center.

Fast facts
Capacity: 900
Handicap Accessible: Yes, the theatre is equipped with a lift. Please let us know at hello@theatreinparis.com when you make your booking so that the theatre can welcome you in the best possible conditions.
Air conditioning: Yes
Heating: Yes
Coat Check: Yes (paid service)