Théâtre du Soleil

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Théâtre du Soleil (lit. "Theater of the Sun") is a Parisian avant-garde stage ensemble. It was founded in 1964 as a collective founded by Ariane Mnouchkine, Philippe Léotard and fellow students at the L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq.

Mnouchkine and her international company of actors believe that the fundamentals of theatre and theatricality are found within the traditions of Asian theatre and the popular theatre of the west. It is a young cosmopolitan company that resides in the old Cartridge factory in the Vincennes area of Paris.

The Troop invented new theatrical operations and focuses on collective work, its main goal, which has not changed since 1968, was to draw up a new relationship with the public and to be distinguished from the middle-class théâtre to make a popular theatre quality. The company became quickly one of the major company of the theatre landscape. It built its own ethics, attached to the concept of “Theatre company” similar to a tribe, a family: Each one receives the same wages. More original still, the final distribution decides only after the actors were exerted with several roles.

Théâtre du Soleil's productions are often performed in found spaces like barns or gymnasiums because Mnouchkine does not like being confined to a typical stage. Similarly, she feels theatre cannot be restricted with the "fourth wall". When audiences enter a Mnouchkine production, they will often find the actors preparing (putting on makeup, getting into costume) right before their eyes. Sometimes, the troupe develops ideas out of improvisational exercises. They also incorporate multiple styles of theatre in their work - ranging from commedia dell'arte to various Asian rituals.