Theatre: Across (work residency presentation)

«"I'm not from here. I suppose I never will be."»

For his exit from residence, the actor Laurent Bouillard will share with you excerpts from Across, a funny, touching and profoundly human monologue, before opening the discussion with the audience.

The play: First translation and production in France

Alone on stage Disorienting, funny, profound, which, through a winding stream of anecdotes, recounts exile, the meaning of being far from home, isolation. A journey through the quest for meaning and identity.

The narrator

The narrator is a mysterious refugee from an unidentified country, A stranger here, a stranger everywhere. His manner and his story are different from those of the place he arrived in. He tries to make people understand the world he comes from and to understand the world he is in.

As funny as it is touching, this monologue creates a theatrical experience that is light, humorous, and deeply moving. It gives the impression of improvisation and of forgetting the script, to the point of letting the dramatic thread disappear.

We are all just passing through

Through poetic digressions, this vagabond reminds us that we are only passing through this world. We must be free to wander aimlessly, but not stray too far.

«"Don't wander off for too long. They stop searching after a while.".
And even you forget that you were once here somewhere.»

Title and Deed was produced and broadcast in the United States in 2012 and in Italy in 2019.

The main themes of the play

Universality and the human condition

Despite his unique story, the character embodies universal questions. Between solitude, the search for meaning, and the duality of humor and tragedy, He reflects on life, death, and love.

Identity and belonging

The character questions the notion of «"at home"», confronting exile and nostalgia.

Language and incommunicability

The limitations and ambiguity of language reflect the difficulty of sharing human experience.

Temporality

The tension between memories, present and the passage of time is omnipresent.

Why create Across ?

A timeless work

In the current context where borders, migrations and cultural identity are at the heart of the debates, Across resonates with great relevance. The strangeness and fragility of the character reflect our own questions about otherness and identity.

A universal experience

The themes transcend cultures and eras. This text proposes a a profoundly human experience, in which everyone can recognize themselves.

Artistic intentions

An exploration of solitude and otherness

The heart of Across It is based on the experience of being a stranger – to a country, a culture, and sometimes to oneself. A mirror of our humanity, revealing flaws, doubts, and brilliance.

A minimalist staging

Minimalist staging, focused on the actor and the power of words. The stage space symbolizes exile and introspection, highlighting the universality of the theme.

The role of humor

Although the play deals with serious subjects, absurd and offbeat humor balances the emotion, allowing the viewer to enter the character's thoughts lightly before discovering their depth.