In the County of Nice, Christmas festivities used to give rise to culinary and artistic events. On this occasion, the people of Nice could admire “Lou Présèpi” (from the Latin *presepium*: manger, nativity scene), a theatrical representation of the mysteries of Christmas. This show was unique in featuring wooden and rag puppets.
This tradition cannot be precisely dated, but it is known to have existed already in 1830, thus well before Lyon’s Guignol. In the 19th century, these performances had their moments of glory, as some Présèpis featured as many as sixty puppets. The first Nissart Présèpi was written by Menica Rondelly and Antoine Augier in 1901. The First World War interrupted these performances, but in 1926, thanks to Jouan Nicola, this popular tradition was revived.
A century later, Serge Dotti and NUX VOMICA reconnect with this tradition through the show Estra-Présèpi, written entirely in Niçois. Following in the footsteps of the unknowns, workers, and artisans of Old Nice who created this tradition and after the famous Rondelly, Augier, and Jouan Nicola, carries a heavy responsibility, as it means both to follow and to depart from them.
“This story is about a humble people who decide to move in the same direction: towards a birth, and not just any birth. The destination is less important than the journey. We leave together and we walk. We will know where we are going once we get there. The essence is the present desire.”
Serge Dotti
“Lou Présèpi” is the theatrical representation of the Niçois version of the Christmas festivities. The story tells of the adventures of the angel Bouffareù who announces a birth in a village named Babazouk…
In a contemporary version of Présèpi, Serge Dotti created burlesque and endearing puppets for a farce in Niçois that will undoubtedly please both children and adults.
Text and direction: Serge Dotti & Nux Vomica
Performance: Serge Dotti, Louis Pastorelli, Maurice Maubert
Sound effects, noises: Jérôme Fantino
Sound creation: Louis Pastorelli
Scenography: Maurice Maubert
Songs: Fred Chiris, Serge Dotti, Louis Pastorelli
Puppets: made as part of a workshop at CEDAC de Cimiez, led by Serge Dotti, who was joined by: Monique Alzial, Michèle Lavarenne, Patricia Coletta.
Artistic collaboration: Isabelle Sénèque
Duration: 1 hour
Admission: 5 €
December 20, 21, 22, 23 at 8:30 pm
Théâtre du Pois Chiche – 2, rue du Château (Old-Nice)
