From 1515 to the Sun King: a history lesson at the Théâtre de Poche

With De 1515 au Roi-Soleil(From 1515 to the Sun King), Maxime d'Aboville revisits his Leçons d'Histoire de France (Lessons in French History) and traverses two centuries marked by the affirmation of the kingdom, from the Wars of Religion to the height of Louis XIV's reign. The artistic dossier indicates that the lesson is based on texts by Hugo, Michelet, Dumas, and Saint-Simon, brought together to offer a literary and chronological account of the "golden age" that shaped modern France.

The show takes the form of a live lesson, inspired by the teachers of yesteryear: gray smocks, a map of France, and a pedagogical approach. This theatrical approach, described in the dossier, transforms the teaching of history into a living narrative, enriched by the language of the great authors. Alireza Kishipour's lighting accompanies the transitions between eras and major figures, linking narration, imagination, and staging.

The dramaturgical montage combines literary excerpts and historical evocations: Marignan, the rise of the Valois, religious tensions, the construction of the absolute monarchy, and court life during the reign of Louis XIV. Texts by Michelet, Dumas, and Saint-Simon give the narrative a style that combines epic, chronicle, and portrait, allowing the audience to grasp the evolution of power, conflicts, and cultural issues of this key period.

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This Lesson naturally dialogues with La Révolution, another show presented this season by Maxime d'Aboville. Together, the two productions offer a journey from the affirmation of the French monarchy to its overthrow, through the great literary texts of^{the 19th} century.

The show can be seen at the Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasseevery Saturday at 5 p.m. starting October 4.

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