La Misérable will be presented at Studio Marigny starting October 3, 2025. This one-woman show, written by Catherine Privat and performed by Julie Depardieu, gives voice to Juliette Drouet, a figure who has long remained in the shadow of Victor Hugo. Directed by Stefan Druet Toukaïeff, the show offers an intimate portrait of a woman whose destiny is intertwined with the poet's work and life, in an approach centered on speech and stage presence at the heart of live performance.
The play recounts fifty years of intense and complex love between Juliette Drouet and Victor Hugo. According to the story, Juliette became, in turn, muse, inspirer, copyist, and unwavering support. She devoted her life to accompanying the writer, even accepting fourteen years of confinement in a maid's room in order to remain constantly close to the man she loved. During this period, she wrote him thousands of letters that bear witness to a relationship marked by passion, control, and unwavering loyalty. This little-known story of admiration and emotional dependence is told from Juliette's point of view, giving the play its introspective and narrative dimension.
Julie Depardieu plays Juliette Drouet 140 years after her death, in a performance that explores the character's strengths and weaknesses. Catherine Privat's script highlights the voice of a rebellious woman, whose apparent docility conceals a deep determination. Juliette appears as a discreet but essential pillar of Victor Hugo's literary journey, a figure whose story has long been relegated to the background. The staging seeks to recreate this shift from silence to speech, adopting a sober approach that allows the intensity of the testimony to emerge.
Stefan Druet Toukaïeff's set design is based on a confined space evoking the intimacy of the room where Juliette writes, while David Belugou's costumes highlight the temporal gap between the 19th century and its contemporary interpretation. The lighting designed by Thomas Jacquemart accompanies the emotional changes that punctuate the story, reinforcing the sensitive dimension of the show. The music borrows from Beethoven, bringing a dramatic color to the whole and dialoguing with the feelings expressed by the character. This collective work offers a clear and accessible reading of the biographical material, in a form adapted to the Parisian stage.
The project is part of an effort to preserve cultural heritage, giving center stage to a literary figure often overshadowed by the magnitude of Victor Hugo's work. Through La Misérable, Studio Marigny presents a production that highlights the words of a woman who was a privileged witness to a major chapter in literary history, while revealing the light and dark sides of this extraordinary relationship. The show will open on October 3, 2025.
Dates and Opening Time
From October 3, 2025 to January 25, 2026
Location
Théâtre Marigny
Carré Marigny
75008 Paris 8
Official website
www.theatremarigny.fr
