Château en Suède: Françoise Sagan's cruel comedy at the Théâtre de Poche

Discover Château en Suède, Françoise Sagan's cruel comedy directed by Emmanuel Gaury and Véronique Viel, at the Théâtre de Poche from November 26.

From November 26,the Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasse presents Château en Suède, Françoise Sagan's first play, created in 1960 and awarded the Prix du Brigadier. This cruel comedy features Frédéric, a young Swede who has just arrived from Stockholm to stay at the family castle where his cousins live. In this world isolated by winter and riddled with unspeakable secrets, the young man sets out to seduce the mysterious Éléonore. But he is unaware that he is becoming the target of a fierce and whimsical game, fueled by the tensions, passions, and unspoken words that reign among the castle's inhabitants. The story combines irony, mystery, and lightheartedness, faithful to Sagan's lively and impertinent writing style.

The production is directed by Emmanuel Gaury and Véronique Viel, who continue their exploration of "contemporary classics" with this show, following the success of Eurydice and Jean Anouilh, souvenirs d'un jeune homme. The duo highlights the spirit of playfulness and fantasy present in the work, embracing the fairy tale and farce elements that run through the play. The set design by Bastien Forestier is based on a double-decker stage that allows for multiple spaces within the closed setting, while the lighting, costumes, and props emphasize the contrast between the coldness of the winter setting and the colorful characters.

The cast includes Odile Blanchet, Bérénice Boccara, Gaspard Cuillé, Emmanuel Gaury, Arthur Cachia, Sana Puis, and Benjamin Romieux. Each performer helps reveal the contradictions and ambiguities of the characters imagined by Sagan, where tenderness mingles with cruelty beneath the veneer of family decorum. The artistic team is completed by Guenièvre Lafarge on costumes, Jean-Pascal Pracht on lighting, and Mathieu Rannou on music, bringing together a creative palette in the service of this comedy that is both scathing and elegant.

Château en Suède is in line with the editorial policy of the Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasse, which seeks to highlight the modernity of 20th-century authors and revive works whose free spirit remains as sharp as ever. By evoking power games, the excesses of idleness, and thwarted desires, the play recalls the relevance of the psychological observation so dear to Sagan. The staging is both respectful of the text and inventive in its means, in order to make this lively comedy resonate with contemporary audiences.

Château en Suède can be seen at the Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasse from November 26.

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