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HISTORICAL

du Théâtre d'Illusia à Aurora

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Created in 1997 in Rouen by Marja Nykänen, Marie De Bailliencourt and Jean-Christophe Canivet, the Théâtre d'Illusia has created and distributed around twenty shows and given more than 1000 performances in France and around the world, whether in internationally renowned theatres and festivals, in unconventional venues, in public spaces: aquatic puppet creations, performance trails for parks and gardens, small autonomous forms.

Artistic direction of a festival for 10 years in Haute Vienne " Imaginieul ".

Artistic, cultural and cooperation activities in France, Finland, Laos, Vietnam, Morocco, Algeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, and Quebec.

Partnership with the educational community from kindergarten to university, retirement homes, medical and social institutes, art schools, and popular education associations.

Collaborations and partnerships with other artistic teams and festivals in France, Quebec, and Finland.

After more than ten years between Normandy and Limousin, the company chose in 2018 to settle permanently in Nouvelle Aquitaine and merged with the AURORA association, organizer of the ImagiNieul festival.

images animées : Corinne Leconte

EQUIPE

Aurora

MARJA NYKÄNEN

metteur en scène, dramaturge, marionnettiste

born in Helsinki (Finland)

graduate of ESNAM (Charleville Mézières),

Actor training program at the Aarhus Theatre Academy (Denmark).

Artistic director of the young puppet festival (Rouen).

Co-founder of the Théâtre d'Illusia, she is responsible for the majority of the staging and dramaturgy of the Company's productions.

Carte blanche for several festivals (Marionnettissimo, Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes de Charleville Mézières).

She has also collaborated with Basil Twist (USA), Guido Ceronetti (Italy), Cie Chairos (Germany), Cie DramBakus and the Lyon National Orchestra, Cie Zapoï, Cie Ratibus, Cie Akselere, Cie de l'Echelle, Via Espressa, and the Finnish National Theatre.

Academy of Arts / Puppet Section of Turku (Finland), University of Oran (Algeria), ISADAC Rabat (Morocco), Writings of the World/Paris.

Artistic direction of the ImagNieul festival.

UNIMA Finland Prize 2017.

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JEAN CHRISTOPHE CANIVET

marionnettiste, comédien, musicien, constructeur

born in Châlons-en-Champagne (France),

graduate of the Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School (90),

Courses at the Charles Dullin School Workshop for actor training.

puppet workshops with Philippe Genty (IIM), Théâtre du petit Miroir (Jean Luc Penso) for learning the "Chinese glove".

Kabuki Theatre workshop at ARTA (Cartoucherie Vincennes)

Black belt in Kendo and teaching diploma

Violinist

Trained in locksmithing for the performing arts (CIF CFPTS)

Co-founder of the Théâtre d'Illusia, has built most of the puppets and sets for the Théâtre d'Illusia's productions in recent years.

Has collaborated with Cie Zapoï, Cie Les Locataires, Cirque Baroque, Cie Drambakus, Cie Les Sages Fous, and Finnish Radio TV.

Member of the Board of Directors of THEMAA from 2012 to 2017, and re-elected in 2021, THEMAA representative for Intermediate and Independent Venues, for RURALITY, Cultural Rights, member of the editorial committee of MANIP the puppet journal.

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SHOWS

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DISPARITION OU LE TIROIR MAGIQUE D'ERIK SATIE

d'après les dessins, notes de partitions et écrits du compositeur

Show suitable for all audiences from age 5 and up.

Created in 1996 for Marionnettissimo (cabaret version) and in 1998 for the Lutke Festival (Slovenia/new trends award).

Over 400 performances over the past 20 years in France and elsewhere, including:

Satie Houses/Honfleur, Textile and Fashion Museum /Cholet, Charleroi Comic Strip Festival (Belgium),

Canvas on the banks of the Vienne-Urkaba/Limoges, Garden Party/OrbisPictus/Joinville, Culture au Grand Jour CD87, World Puppet Theatre Festival of Charleville-Mézières, Canel Museum/Pont Audemer

Heritage Days - Former Jesuit Colleges/Reims, Jardin des Plantes d'Evreux, Viva Cité/Sotteville lès Rouen, Haute Vienne en Scène, Urkaba...

with the support of:

Satie Foundation/Paris, Théâtre le Safran/Rouen, French School of Hanoi

By turns, the king of beans, a sad clown, or a moonless Pierrot, the theater director has his work cut out for him to find Monsieur Erik... but what do you prefer? Music or charcuterie?... the curtain rises on a bone...

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PREMIER CHANT

d'après le premier chant du Kalevala, épopée finlandaise

Aquatic puppet show for toddlers from 18 months old.

2000-2011

Created for Helsinki European Capital of Culture 2000, performed over 650 times for 10 years, notably at the TJP/CDN Strasbourg,

Festival les Boréales/CDN Caen, Festival Petits Bonheurs/Montreal, Bravo/Helsinki, Internationaal Poppentheater Festival Dordrecht, Lutke Festival/National Theatre/Ljubljana, Marionnettissimo, Très Tôt Théâtre, CCM Limoges, L'Archipel/National Stage Guadeloupe, Leu Tempo Festival/Reunion Island, Festival Méli'mome, rural tour with Ligue 87,

"Rêveurs éveillés" Festival/Sevran, Ô 4 vents Festival/Paris 4

with the support of:

DRAC Haute-Normandie, Région Haute-Normandie, Ville de Rouen, Département Seine-Maritime,

ODIA, Workshop 231 /Sotteville lès Rouen

Photo: Alain Julien

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ROI OCÉAN

libre adaptation de la vie et l'oeuvre de Genghis Khan, le conquérant mongol

2005 - 2007

Water puppet and Chinese glove puppet show for ages 8 and up

with the support of:

DRAC and the Upper Normandy Region, Seine-Maritime Department, City of Rouen,

Espace Beaumarchais / Maromme, Festival les Giboulées/TJP-CDN Strasbourg,

Festival Méli'môme/Reims, Festival Ô 4 vents/Paris, Internationaal Poppentheater Festival/Dordrecht (Netherlands),

The Ephemeris/Val de Reuil, Théâtre de la Chapelle Saint Louis /Rouen, Atelier 231/Sotteville-lès-Rouen

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PETITE HISTOIRE DE BATEAUX

Water puppet show for ages 7 and up

2007-2011

based on the children's book "A Little Love Story" by Marit Törnqvist

With the support of

DRAC and Normandy Region, Seine-Maritime Department, City of Rouen, CC Marc Sangnier, CCM J.Moulin Limoges, Bravo Festival (Finland), Champs de la marionnettes/Cie Daru, Ligue de l'enseignement 87, Théâtre en Action/Moulidars,

François Mitterrand Cultural Center/Canteleu

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ALLÉE AUX NICHOIRS

Parcours spectacles pour les parcs et jardins

created 2002/2003

4 Performance Trails on the 4 elements in the colors of the rainbow, written by contemporary authors for the show.

Birdhouses are like miniature theatres that hold the seeds of creation in the world.

Intimate tours where puppeteer guides offer a space of freedom for the spectators' imagination.

More than 600 performances since its creation, including:

Renaissance Festival / Bar-le-Duc, Jardin des Plantes / Paris, Jardin de Bercy / Paris, Château de Châlucet,

Destination Elsewhere/Vassivière, Harcourt Castle,

Bellac National Festival, 1,9,3 Soleil Festival / La Courneuve,

World Puppet Theatre Festival of Charleville-Mézières, URBAKA

with the support of:

DRAC and the Upper Normandy Region, the Seine-Maritime Department, the City of Rouen,

LaChambole/Rugles Festival, Bernay Festival, Leu Tempo Festival/Reunion Island, Beyond Reality Festival/Joué-lès-Tours,

The Ephemeris / Val de Reuil, MJC J. Prévert/Dieppe, CNES Villeneuve lès Avignon

Photo credit: Samuel Stewart

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YOURTE DES MARIONNETTES NOMADES

Created in 2007

exhibition show in a real Mongolian yurt

with the support of

Upper Normandy region,

The Apostrophe-Media Library of Nantiat, Marionmaine,

Traveling Puppet Festival / ZAPOï Company,

Franco-Moroccan Alliance of El Jadida, Safi, French Institute of Fez, Sotteville-lès-Rouen Media Library, Canteleu Cultural Center

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CETTE NUIT AUTOUR DU PUITS - LES ENIGMES DE LA REINE DE SABA

Spectacle d'après "les énigmes de la Reine de Saba" de Mohamed Kacimi

2009-2012

Created in the Portuguese city of El Jadida in Morocco in 2009, then in residence at the Théâtre du Fon du Loup (24),

created in France for the Francophonies Festival in Limoges and for

the World Puppet Theatre Festival in Charleville-Mézières 2009,

Usinotopia, Helsinki Festival, Malmitalo (Finland)

with the support of

the Upper Normandy Region, the Franco-Moroccan Alliances of El Jadida, Safi, Kenitra,

The French Institutes of Fez, Oujda and Rabat, the Nador Festival (Morocco), L'Ephéméride / Val de Reuil,

The Château de la Roche Guyon, the Centre Daviel/Paris 13, the Chapelle Saint Louis/Rouen, the Espace F.Mitterrand/St Saens, the Théâtre du Fond du Loup/Carves

Photo credit: Camara Moussa

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THE STORY OF THE BIRDS WHO WANTED TO KNOW THE END OF THE WORLD

a free adaptation of The Conference of the Birds (Attar) by Mohamed Kacimi

Performance piece created in 2012/2013 during a residency at the Château de Harcourt (27)

with the support of

the DRAC and the Normandy Region, the Department of Eure, the ARS Normandy (Culture and Health),

the World Puppet Theatre Festival of Charleville-Mézières,

Royaumont Foundation, Malmitalo/Helsinki, Les 6000/artistic wasteland, Urbaka/Limoges

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JEPATA GRIFFE AU PÔLE NORD

a show of shadows and light

Created in 2011

Adaptation of the children's book "Jepata Nasta Pohjoisnavalla" by Rosa Liksom

With the support of:

Upper Normandy region,

Finnish Institute/Paris, Hippalot Festival/Hämeenlinna, CCM Limoges, Espace Culturel F. Mitterrand/Canteleu,

MPT Sotteville-lès-Rouen, Château de Harcourt, DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Photo: Isabelle Hartmann

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TIPOL

Poésie sonore et marionnettes pour les tout-petits

created in 2015

with the support of:

Normandy region, La Factorie/Val de Reuil,

Le Relais, theatre creation centre/Le Catelier, DRAC Haute Normandie (CLEAC),

7th Sooloa Festival/ Rovaniemi (Finland), Salle L. Jouvet-Chapelle Saint Louis / Rouen, La Ligue de l'enseignement 87

L-AI-TRE AUX  POE-TES 2016 - Serge Pe-ri

QUAND L'OMBRE PASSE

Tribute to Mohammed Dib #1

2015-2016

Shadow and puppet show in homage to Mohammed Dib, based on "L'enfant Jazz"

Created during the 2015 World Puppet Theatre Festival in Charleville-Mézières

with the support of:

La Factorie/House of Poetry in Normandy/Val de Reuil, Alias Victor/Rouen, The Magical Worlds/Rouen

Elsa's Eyes / Le Havre, the international society of friends of Mohammed Dib,

La Baluba /St Yrieix sous Aixe, Festival Des mots dans les nuages /Camaret,

Festival of Colors of Europe / Algiers, the Embassy of Finland in Algiers,

Villa Abdelatif of Algiers

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SAISONS
Hommage  à Mohamed Did #2

2017

according to "The Tree of Sayings" by Mohamed Dib

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with the support of:

Festival of Colors of Europe / Algiers, Embassy of Finland in Algiers,

City of Blida, Kateb Yacine School of Algiers,

World Puppet Theatre Festival of Charleville-Mézières,

The Buissonière School/The Boxwood

in memoriam Iazid Ketfi

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Photo: Corinne Leconte

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QUE DIT L'ARBRE

 

2015/2016

show created at the Opéra Village/Laongo (Burkina Faso) as part of the LIMFASO cooperation

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with the support of:

Limousin & New Aquitaine Region,

Public Reading Hub of the AGD/ELAN Community of Municipalities,

House of Friendship/Ziniaré, DPENA Resource Center Ziniaré,

La Factorie/House of Poetry in Normandy/Val de Reuil,

Elsa's Eyes / Le Havre, La Source / La Guéroulde, St. Louis Chapel / Espace L. Jouvet / Rouen,

Raymond Loewy Applied Arts High School/La Souterraine

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TEMPÊTE SUR UN VÉLO

A loose adaptation of The Tempest by W. Shakespeare

2017-2020

variable-shaped creation for outdoor and/or indoor use

Creation stage: Lize Puppet Art Colony/Ylan (Taiwan), L'Usinotopie, Théâtre du Fon du Loup,

Theatre in action, Théâtre de l'Esquif, Micro festival Trois Rivières (Quebec)

with the support of

Unusual Theatre Factory/Sages Fous Company, International Micro Poppen Festival Dordrecht,

Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival,

OFF MIMA/Mirepoix, Raymond Loewy High School of Applied Arts/La Souterraine

Photo: Patrick Arigrakis

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CANTIQUE AQUATIQUE

Aquatic puppet show created

at the 2021 Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival

Creation stages in 2018:

Kikloche Festival (72), Festisol / Ziniaré / Zorgho (Burkina Faso),

CCM J.Moulin /Limoges (Festival of Solidarity)

Creation stages in 2019: ImagiNieul (87), Fragments/Marc la Tour (19),

Lize Puppet Theater & its double/Lize Puppet Art Colony/Ylan/ Taiwan

Valenciennes Traveling Puppet Festival/Cie Zapoï (59)

Creation stages in 2020 and 2021: Théâtre Hélios, ImaiNieul

Creative residency and premieres: Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival (Sept 2021)

with the support of:

OARA (production support), Nouvelle Aquitaine Region (NAFASO cooperation), DRAC NA (residency support)

Human Rights House / Limoges, Nieul Municipality,

Municipality of Nantiat, World Puppet Theatre Festival of Charleville-Mézières (co-production)

Hélios Theater, Lizé Puppet Art Colony

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Lyyli des 4 saisons

Hommage à Mohammed Dib # 3

Created in 2020

The puppet:

a little mixed-race girl who observes the seasons,

invents nursery rhymes,

recites poems,

Listen to the birds singing.


Two women:

Are they members of his family or nature spirits?

They offer other poems that are like gifts to the child.
You feel the absence of a loved one and the passing of time.

The birds fly away.

A tree on stage breathes in rhythm with the passing seasons

Avec le soutien de

Région Nouvelle Aquitaine, Festival des Francophonies en Limousin

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création ImagiNieul 2020 et Festival Francophonies /Zébrures d'Automne 2020

CREATION VIDEO EN TEMPS DE "COVID"

​International Puppet Parlor  / Online

Au Here Theater  (New York) :

"ROCKING CHAIR"

  • - 9 décembre  2020 :

LIEN POUR VISIONNER LA VIDEO

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