MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

September 23, 2003

France’s Helene Cixous To Lecture Here

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University will sponsor a series of lectures and workshops (Oct. 6-10) featuring internationally renowned French feminist philosopher, writer, playwright and activist Hélène Cixous; and two members of the Théâtre du Soleil, one of the most celebrated theatre companies in Europe -- actress Myriam Azencot and Maïtreyi, a movement instructor and actress.

The programs will be sponsored by the Northwestern University School of Communication, the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the President of Northwestern. Also supporting the events are the Consul General of France and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in Chicago.

During their visit to Northwestern, Cixous, Azencot and Maïtreyi will present workshops for Northwestern undergraduate students, as well as a private workshop, by invitation only, for actors and directors.

Three of the “Hélène Cixous and the Théâtre du Soleil” events are free and open to the public. They will be held at locations on the Northwestern University Evanston and Chicago campuses, as noted below. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not necessary.

The public series begins with a presentation of the Théâtre du Soleil and of Cixous’ play “Tambours sur la Digue”/“Drums on the Dyke” at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at Annie May Swift Auditorium, 1920 Campus Drive, Evanston campus. The program will include a brief introduction to the Théâtre du Soleil by Craig Kinzer, associate professor of theatre for Northwestern’s School of Communication; a screening of excerpts from the stage production of “Tambours sur la Digue” at the Thèâtre du Soleil; and a discussion with playwright Hélène Cixous and actress Myriam Azencot.

Cixous’ lecture, “The Book I Do Not Write: Discovering the Interior Stage – Books and Plays at War with the Author,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, will be held at the McCormick Tribune Center, The Forum Room, 1870 Campus Drive, Evanston campus. A presidential reception will follow the lecture.

Cixous’ lecture “Evening at the Corner of the Two Worlds: A Chronicle of Creation with the Théâtre du Soleil,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, will be held at the School of Law, Lincoln Hall, 357 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago campus.

Cixous is best known in the United Sates as a feminist critic whose concept of “ecriture feminine” opened new ways to deal with gender difference in culture, writing and social theory. As a playwright, working closely with director Ariane Mnouchkine at the Théâtre du Soleil, she has been concerned with ethical and political questions in contemporary history, especially the effects of colonialism, corruption and social injustice. Cixous is currently professor of English literature at Paris VIII and the founder and director of the university’s Centre d’Études Féminines, the first of its kind in Europe.

Azencot has participated in all of the Théâtre du Soleil’s productions under the direction of Mnouchkine for the past 20 years, and since 1996 she has also been involved in actors’ workshops. Maïtreyi started her collaboration with Mnouchkine in 1982 as a dancer, actress and training young artists.

This series is co-sponsored by the French Interdisciplinary Group, the departments of English and of French and Italian, the Program in Critical Theory, the Alice Berline Kaplan Center for the Humanities, and the School of Continuing Studies.

Doors will open 30 minutes before each event commences. For more information, visit the Web site: www.communication.northwestern.edu or call (847) 491-5490.