Roy Hart Theatre in Malérargues
50th Anniversary Festival
25 June – 1 July 2024
On July 1st 1974 seven pioneers with big visions and brave voices arrived in Malérargues from London to begin a new chapter in the story of the Roy Hart Theatre. They were Frank “The Builder” Francis, Akhmatova Samuels, Coco Samuels (d. 2006), Heide Rose Hildebrandt, Rafael Lopez-Barrantes, Johannes Theron, and Orlanda Cook (d. 2003).
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of this auspicious date and the much-anticipated reunion of those members of the “First 49” who followed from London in groups of three and four over the following nine months and were finally all reunited in April 1975.
These forty-nine people from all walks of life had a vision to create theatre: to make of their lives their art, living in community together, engaging with the human voice as a way to deeper self-knowledge and to the expression of the soul.
Despite terrible financial hardship and unimaginable tragedy, when three of their members – Roy Hart, Dorothy Hart, and Vivienne Young – died in an automobile accident only weeks after the last members had arrived from London, the Roy Hart Theatre persevered and established what has become a thriving centre for learning and artistic creation, as well as a home and a haven to many, now the Centre Artistique International Roy Hart.
Film © Clément Caudal, 2019. All rights reserved.
This year the founding members of the Roy Hart Theatre will gather once more in Malérargues, for a week-long festival, to teach, to perform, to exchange, and to celebrate the fruits of their efforts and the future of their legacy in collaboration with the new generations of teachers, students, artists, researchers, and residents of Malérargues.
FESTIVAL WEEK PROGRAMME
WORKSHOPS
Over the course of the week workshops will be taught by six of the original 49ers: David Goldsworthy, Pascale Ben, Kevin Crawford, Ian Magilton, Margaret Pikes, and Saule Ryan, assisted by teachers from subsequent generations.
IT IS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY
Led by Pascale Ben with Laurent Stéphan & Olivier Philippson
25, 26, 27 June 2024
MASTERCLASSES
PERFORMANCES
SEVEN SHOWS IN SEVEN NIGHTS!
The Magnanerie theatre will be open nightly for concerts and performances given by members of the original cast of 49. All performances are open to the public. For reservations please email jubilee@centreroyhart.org
ACIS & GALATEA
Tuesday 25 June 2024 at 8pm
A production of Handel’s baroque opera in the spirit of the Roy Hart Theatre, co-directed by Stephen Rivers-Moore, Ian Magilton, Sašo Vollmaier, and Caroline Boersma. FREE
DIONYSOS & ALFRED WOLFSOHN
Wednesday 26 June 2024 at 7pm
A solo performance by Kaya Margaret Melville Anderson, 91 year old Doyenne of the Roy Hart Theatre, inspired by “The Bacchae” by Euripides. 15€/12€
GÉNÉRATION
Thursday 27 June 2024 at 8pm
Kaya Anderson, Ian Magilton, Saule Ryan, David Goldsworthy, Carol Mendelsohn and Marianne Le Tron present their own personal distillation of fifty years of Roy Hart Theatre in Malérargues. Directed by Sašo Vollmaier. 15€/12€
POCKET MIRACLES
Friday 28 June 2024 at 9pm
An evening of short stories and songs by Pascale Ben, accompanied by Olivier Philippson on accordion and Christophe Back on piano. 15€/12€
LUCIENNE DESCHAMPS SINGS ANNE SYLVESTRE
Saturday 29 June 2024 at 9pm
Inspiring laughter and tears she sings of a feminist life but not only that…
Lucienne will be accompanied by Jean-Philippe Winter on guitar. 15€/12€
CATHÉDRALE
Sunday 30 June 2024 at 8pm
A concert in the tradition of the Roy Hart Theatre performed by a cast of founding members from the First 49. FREE
LE BAL D’OLIVIER
Monday 1 July 2024 at 8pm
A traditional village ball with whirling waltzes, languorous mazurkas, firey jigs, vigorous bourrées, and circle dances. A French ceilidh led by Olivier Philippson on accordion, from a repertoire of original music and French songs. Come one, come all! 15€/12€
Stay tuned for updates on programming by signing up for the festival newsletter below.
There will be masterclasses, readings, fire-side conversations, and multi-media presentations given by Lucienne Deschamps, Stephen Rivers-Moore, Rafael Lopez-Barrantes, Ivan Midderigh, and many others.
This historic week will be a unique opportunity to celebrate theatre and voice, culminating in song and dance at a traditional village ball on the evening of July first.
We look forward to welcoming old friends and newcomers alike to celebrate with us during this once-in-a-lifetime jubilee celebration. Should you have any questions please contact event organisers Ivan Midderigh and Siobhán McCann, at Jubilee@centreroyhart.org.
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