To the extent of the impossible… The name of Tiago Rodrigues’ play could also have suited the situation that the new director of the Avignon festival found himself managing. A few weeks before the start of the event, director Krystian Lupa saw his rehearsals canceled by the Comédie de Genève. His show was then deprogrammed from Avignon, the festival not being able to cover the additional cost of moving the production. To plug the hole of the nine canceled performances at the Opéra Grand Avignon, the Portuguese director and director of the festival finally programmed himself.
In Switzerland, where he was to run his show, the Polish director was questioned for his behavior by the teams of the Comédie de Genève. The theater management ended rehearsals for the show “due to differences over work philosophy.” If he admits having made mistakes, the director denies having crossed a red line.
The Avignon festival then canceled the performances. “Faced with this unpredictable situation, the Festival management has requested the help of the Comédie de Genève to search together for a show to present to the public in July, on the same dates and in the same place”, indicates the festival in a press release. Dans la mesure de l’impossible, also produced by the Comédie de Genève, stands out as “the show that it is possible to present with regard to the availability of the artists” and the “financial and logistical capacities” available to the festival.
The play, written and produced by the Portuguese playwright in 2022, presented in the fall at the Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe, revolves around the daily life of humanitarian doctors, traumatized by the horrors seen on war grounds. It will be played from July 13 to 22, 2023.
