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. |