Mémoire de fille: a contemporary adaptation at the Théâtre des Abbesses

From November 26 to December 6,the Théâtre de la Ville – Les Abbesses will host Mémoire de fille, a stage adaptation of Annie Ernaux's autobiographical novel. The show, originally created in German at the Schaubühne in Berlin, explores the construction of memory and the lasting effects of a formative experience. Alone on stage, Suzanne de Baecque navigates the text at the intersection of body and voice, in a performance that is fully in line with the field of live performance and contemporary creation.

Conceived by Veronika Bachfischer, Sarah Kohm, and Élisa Leroy, the show articulates two narrative levels: Annie Ernaux looking back on her past and the young Annie Duchesne going through the events of 1958. Sarah Kohm's staging plays on this circulation between embodiment and analysis, revealing the tension between desire, domination, and identity construction. Suzanne de Baecque's performance draws on an intense physical presence, exploring the porosity between literary narrative and lived experience. This approach highlights the place of writing in intimate memory and places the adaptation firmly within the mainstream of the Parisian theater scene.

Lena Marie Emrich's set design creates a modular space where the gaze takes center stage: mirrored screens, transparencies, and lighting effects designed by Thibault Vincent encourage a constant dialogue between the actress, her reflection, and the audience. Leonardo Mackridge's music, Lena Marie Emrich's costumes, and Élisa Leroy's dramaturgical work accompany this exploration of bodily memory. The ensemble questions the relationship to the female body, its representation, and its vulnerability, at the heart of a questioning that is very present in the 2025 creation.

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This adaptation puts Annie Ernaux's story into perspective with contemporary issues surrounding sexuality, consent, and the place of the body in theater in Paris. By questioning the "transfer" between writer, character, and performer, the show offers a sensitive reading of the work, going beyond a simple evocation of the past. It is a highlight of the 2025 season, part of an approach focused on transmission, listening, and self-expression on stage.

The show can be seen at the Théâtre de la Ville – Les Abbesses from November 26 to December 6, 2025.