Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur, 2018

Which truth is more timeless and tragic than that of the eternal conflict between neighbours, clans, peoples, or nations? In a world where coexistence is a daily concern, how can we reaffirm the power of love beyond misunderstandings and differences?

I directed this play eighteen years ago, and it’s a piece I never tire of as a director. There are so many ways to approach it, one can never be fully satisfied! After creating it for the first time, I wanted to revisit it, go further, and rework certain elements. Last year, I directed it at the opera house in Nice. This is a piece one never truly leaves!

Originally, this new creation was intended primarily as an educational representation. It’s not the same process as a touring production, which requires at least eight weeks of rehearsals. I wanted to propose a lighter version, staged with local actors as part of the Shake Nice! festival, especially for young people who are discovering and performing their adaptations of Romeo and Juliet. I indeed wish for all young people in the region to see this iconic play. During their schooling, it is true that few, if any, will read the entire play. The only way for them to make it their own is through cinema, but I felt it was important for them to also see the original play performed live in the theatre.”