Amateur performers take the stage in Strasbourg's theatre
The National Theatre of Strasbourg (TNS), helmed by Caroline Guiela Nguyen since September 2023, has been tackling societal diversity and championing untold stories on its stages. On April 23, 2023, she unveiled Les Galas du TNS - a community-focused festival running until May 3, merging celebration, creation, and local artists. These artists, driven by artistic necessity, have crafted their shows alongside individuals previously unseen on TNS stages.
Kicking off this inaugural edition of Les Galas was Marcel Pagnol's Marius, adapted by Joeřel Pommerat and created in 2019 with inmates from the Arles prison, among other pieces. Two plays spearheaded the event: Nguyen's Valentina and Claire Lasne Darcueil's Je suis venu te chercher. Both plays stem from documentary research overseen by Nguyen's TNS team; however, their storylines diverge significantly.
Nguyen draws inspiration from Migrations Santé Alsace, an organization creating a network of interpreters, enabling non-French-speaking migrants and refugees to access crucial linguistic assistance, preventing institutional abuse. Yet, Nguyen values the power of fiction over sheer facts. Valentina, her play, unfolds as a mesmerizing fairy tale, weaving horror and enchantment.
The story centers around Valentina, a 9-year-old Romanian girl, who migrates to France with her ailing mother. Faced with medical appointments, Valentina finds herself interpreting for her mother, leading to a heart-wrenching conflict. As Valentina sacrifices her energy in a tangled web of deceit, all in the pursuit of protecting her mother, tragedy ensues.
Although specific details about the plot of Valentina at the Les Galas du TNS remain elusive, the production is slated for the 2025 Romaeuropa Festival in Rome, focusing on translation, language, and the bond between a mother and a daughter[5]. To uncover more details about this performance at Les Galas du TNS, it may be necessary to explore the theatre's official programs or press releases.
- The National Theatre of Strasbourg (TNS) opened its doors to a new era under the leadership of Caroline Guiela Nguyen, who has been emphasizing societal diversity and untold stories since September 2023.
- On April 23, 2023, Nguyen introduced Les Galas du TNS, a community-focused festival running until May 3, which merges celebration, creation, and local artists.
- Marcel Pagnol's Marius, adapted by Joeřel Pommerat and created in 2019 with inmates from the Arles prison, was the opening production of this inaugural edition of Les Galas.
- Nguyen's play, Valentina, is inspired by Migrations Santé Alsace, an organization that provides linguistic assistance for non-French-speaking migrants and refuges.
- Valentina, a mesmerizing fairy tale, weaves horror and enchantment, depicting a 9-year-old Romanian girl who migrates to France with her ailing mother and is caught in a heart-wrenching conflict while interpreting for her.
- The production of Valentina at Les Galas du TNS is scheduled for the 2025 Romaeuropa Festival in Rome, focusing on translation, language, and the bond between a mother and a daughter.
