Nice-Premium: How and under what circumstances was the 1st Humor Contest of the Théâtre de l’Impasse born?
Noël Duchène: It should be noted that the L’IMPASSE theater was inaugurated on September 12, 2006, thanks to the Cie CELIANDRE, an association whose goals are to promote artists and organize charity evenings; during the first season, we had to make this small theater known, hidden away in an alleyway that even the people of Vieux-Nice aren’t familiar with! All our energy went into this effort, for the public as well as for the artists and media people… mission accomplished!… From then on, we could put this venue at the service of promoting artists and live performance!
The idea of a café-theater festival has been in our minds since the inauguration! The first to know were the other theaters… everyone was on board! The idea of a large café-theater festival in Nice is appealing! But it’s difficult to establish… without support from local authorities, it’s better to start small and grow!
And then, when you see that in Antibes, it’s the thirtieth edition! Eze works extremely well! Cannes is a whole other story… but why not Nice???
And when you love the festival atmosphere… without going so far as to reproduce Avignon (lol!)… you go for it and tell yourself it must be done and get others involved!
It may not necessarily be a brilliant idea, but at least it’s a way to promote artists by creating an event and pleasing an audience that loves the festival vibe!
NP: How long have you been working on the program, and how were the candidates chosen?
ND: Since last May…
Choosing them? Meetings, word of mouth, spontaneous applications… we auditioned, we went to see them…
The criteria were, on one hand, novelty: either young talents or new shows, and on the other hand, the work, the maturity in what they present!
We chose six! It’s tough… and that’s why more theaters need to participate next year so the public can see even more!
NP: Tell us about the patron Yvette Leglaire. How was this choice made?
ND: She made us die of laughter on “Incroyables Talents”… such a completely offbeat character in this sanitized, stereotyped universe… there are great things in these shows and I love them for the discoveries… but this was different… like a cheeky nod… and the public wasn’t fooled when they called her back into the competition… we get attached, she moves us, makes us laugh… isn’t that what an artist is?
All those feelings are what we love to find in a show… and to promote young talents of the 2007/2008 season who better than a recognized talent of the 2006/2007 year?
Moreover, she is an old acquaintance… our paths have already crossed several times… so…
NP: What will the winner receive?
ND: There are plenty of things… symbolically a check… but mostly getting known through the press, which is still the most important link with the public… through programmers (we have invited all the theaters in the region, representatives of the tourism offices of the department, elected officials)… and above all, we hope for a large audience and word of mouth for their career this season…
Not to mention their programming at the IMPASSE and hopefully in Paris at the Théâtre du Bout…
NP: What are the next events organized by the Théâtre de l’Impasse?
ND: Musically, we are reaching real heights! 40 seats, a very intimate place and we’re going to see big names come through!
They’re not big names known throughout all of France, but they are all very high-level artists, young and already working with the greats! On the theater’s website, you can discover them!
And culture for us is a mix… so there’s lyrical “ONCLE NORBERT,” jazz “NAKARI TRIO,” salsa “Sandrine DESTEFANIS,” magnificent pop “AUREN,” “STEPHANE MONDINO,” musical shows from Avignon “LES CLODOS DE MA RUE” or “RUMEUR,” not to mention the second edition of our French song festival in January with shows on “FERRE,” “BARBARA”… and I forget some!
Theatrically, triumph also with the revival of “LA NUIT DES REINES,” hysterically funny!
A creation for the holidays, after “MOULIN ROUGE” last year… here are “LES BIJOUX DE CUPIDON.”
There will also, hopefully, be “LES MONOLOGUES DU VAGIN” in February… “LES PETITES FEMMES”.. and a café-theater month in March…
and then charity evenings… continuing from those organized since 1997 by CELIANDRE… already for the telethon in December and early 2008 against Alzheimer’s…
NP: Finally, will there definitely be a second edition of the Humor Contest?
ND: OH YES!
Program:
Thursday 27
8:00 PM: Opening of the contest by patron Yvette LEGLAIRE
Presentation of the Jury and candidates
Cloé MAGINOT (excerpt, non-competitive) “Par’à’z’arts”
8:45 PM: Jean-François SANTOLINI “Figures libres!”
9:45 PM: Hazar SELAM “Ça existe!!”
Friday 28
8:00 PM: Jérome HENRI “Le Gwo Zoutil”
9:00 PM: Clément BRUN “Retenez bien ma tête demain je serais célèbre!”
10:00 PM: Yvette LEGLAIRE “C’est ma tournée!”
Saturday 29
8:00 PM: Zack NARANJO “Môa tout crashé”
9:00 PM: WAD “Ma vie n’est k’1 sketch”
10:00 PM: Yvette LEGLAIRE “C’est ma tournée!”
CRIVELLARO Véronique known as La Sardine (excerpt, non-competitive) “La Divine”
Results of the Contest and award presentation to the winner
