At 46, Olivier Solivérès has made a name for himself in the theater world for children.
His first play
Ados
, written in 2009, is still performed at Point-Virgule, while
Hunchback of Notre-Dame
, nominated for Molière in 2017, sold out at Gaîté-Montparnasse.
A prolific author, he presents a total of six of his key pieces in various places in the capital, including two new creations.
Funny and captivating, they are called
Space Wars
and
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs
.
To discover
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LE FIGARO.- Is it a consecration for you to have the voice of Pierre Arditi in one of your new creations?
Olivier SOLIVÉRÈS.-
It's an unexpected recognition!
I wanted a singular, theatrical voice to embody the mirror in
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs
.
One day, I submitted the name of Pierre Arditi to the director of the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse, which produces the show.
Obviously, I didn't believe it at all.
But a week later, he recorded it.
Why do you think he accepted?
Like me with my children, to continue to make her granddaughter dream ...
Do you feel more legitimate as a writer for young audiences today?
Ten years ago, when I staged my first play
Ados
, there was no one at the castings.
The actors did not want to act in my plays for fear of no longer being credible.
We could see it done with cardboard decorations and cartoonish texts.
Today it no longer has the old-fashioned image it had before.
The work is colossal, the aesthetics are polished, there are special effects ... In my show
Snow White
and the 7 Dwarfs
, the costumes even come from the Paris Opera.
The theaters invest a lot more and that brings back the public.
Now I am overwhelmed with requests!
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse (14th).
Olivier Solivérès
You qualify your shows as "family". Don't like the “young audience” label?
I think for families.
Often, parents who do not know my rooms will hide at the back of the room to fall asleep, and very soon there is a joke for them.
I love those times when kids look at their parents as if to say "
I don't understand why you're kidding, but you're kidding at my show and that's cool
".
It brings people together.
Your new pieces are embellished with 3D videos, mapping and even holograms. Is this the future of children's entertainment?
Maybe ... Honestly, I'm not necessarily for overbidding the theater.
You can do something spectacular with three times nothing.
For my play
Au pays du Père Noël,
which is being played at the Théâtre des Mathurins, the sets are made with my own hands, I like this artisan side.
But if history lends itself to technology, then why not ... For
Space Wars
, I worked with Sébastien Mizermont (
Editor's note, author of Mélenchon's hologram in 2017
).
Visually, we must admit that it is really crazy!
Space Wars by Olivier Solivérès currently at the Théâtre Michel (8th).
Olivier Solivérès
Your shows captivate children from start to finish. Do you feel that you have understood their expectations?
I answer what made me dream when I was a kid.
I like the surprise, the grandiose!
And it turns out that it works.
Afterwards, I always tell my actors to remain sincere and especially not to make fun of children by caricaturing the characters and falling back into old clichés.
Your plays are often springboards for young actors. Like your brother Thomas Solivérès, whom you revealed ...
My little brother, Thomas Solivérès, is my greatest pride, I am very happy that he broke into the cinema.
There is also William Lebghil, nominated for the César in 2019 and Lola Dubini who started in
Ados.
I like working with people who are just starting out.
It's very rewarding to watch them grow up and then fly away.
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse, 26, rue de la Gaîté (14th). Phone. : 01 43 20 60 56.
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Space Wars, at the Michel Theater, 38, rue des Mathurins (8th). Phone. : 01 42 65 35 02.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS WITH LE FIGARO