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BOUDOIR

 

The boudoir is traditionally a room within a bourgeois house reserved for feminine conversations, between living room and bedroom – the inverted double of the predominately masculine sphere of public and social spaces – a space whose easy, even contemptuous reputation Sade recast, making it a place of new-found and affirmed liberty through the drawing together of sexuality and philosophy, intimacy and a social critique of restrictive dogmas and powers.

Each element harbours fragments of memories that re-emerge from a collective past life (bourgeois sociabilities, contraptions and costumes, relics of religion and war, trophies celebrating man’s domination of nature, of animals or bodies and far-off cultures…) Through the collage or convergence of contradictory memorial references, the objects, furniture and costumes together generate hybrid and metamorphic forms. The ensemble of elements creates an intimate even mental space and one that is moreover both elegant and delicate. Like an invitation to meditation, introspection and perhaps appeasement, offered and open to the imagination of each visitor.

Steven Cohen will juxtapose this intimate space simultaneously or successively with video recordings of actions effectuated outside in symbolic and memorial places: the inverted double of the boudoir, in which actions from the public sphere will be introduced into the private sphere, actions which were on the contrary based on the exhibition of the private or intimate within the public space. In both cases, the forms and actions – which centre on the metamorphosed body of Steven Cohen – reveal how interior conflicts, representations, oppressions and laws all intertwine.

This performative-installation is conceived as the culmination of precedent works created by the performer and visual artist, born in 1962. Steven Cohen will be present in the space, alone, as much host as a piece of furniture among other furnishings. He will welcome the audience into an intimate space he has created and with which he will interact: a scenographic and decorated place, a chamber of memories as well as an elegant old-word salon containing diverse objects and pieces of furniture (his visual artworks include furniture he has transformed, adapted and reimagined), paintings and candelabras, graphic works and animal statuaries.

November 2022
Lausanne (CH) – Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Paris (FR) – Beaubourg, Centre Pompidou
December 2022
Rennes (FR) – TNB
January 2023
Bruxelles (BE) / Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles
February 2023
Bergen (NO) / BIT Teatergarasjen
Zurich (CH) / Focus
March 2023
Annecy (FR) / Bonlieu Scène Nationale
April 2023
Poitiers (FR) / TAP
October 2023
Toulouse (FR) / Garonne
January 2024
Barcelona (ES) / Lliure
April 2024
Madrid (ES) / Teatros del canal
October 2024
Transforme festival in Paris : Théâtre de la Cité Internationale / Fondation d’entreprise Hermès (FR)
January 2025
Transforme festival in Clermont-Ferrand : Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand / Fondation d’entreprise Hermès FR)
March 2025
Transforme festival in Lyon : Les Subs / Fondation d’entreprise Hermès (FR)
Boudoir (Steven Cohen)
© Allan Thiebault

With Boudoir he thus continues his research into the mark different powers and history make upon the body, as well as the mark of death on life. As in his precedent works he confronts and transcends this through the concrete, visual and sensual invention of hybrid and fluid identities born out of the meeting of opposing behaviours – which are thus incorporated or metabolized. This union of oppositions is something he would call transgression: violent and delicate, trivial and elegant, simple and savant, intimate and public, personal and collective, sacred and profane, life and death, feminine and masculine. The ensemble gives rise to the emergence of a truly free being, both delicate and ethereal yet fully conscious of the world’s many horrors.

© Allan Thiebault

Conception and performance : Steven Cohen

Production : Cie Steven Cohen, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne

With the support of the Hermès Corporate Foundation as part of its New Settings program

Coproduction : National Theater of Bretagne, Rennes – Les spectacles vivants, Centre Pompidou – Paris Autumn Festival – TAP Theater and Auditorium of Poitiers – Les Halles de Schaerbeek – Mousonturm Frankfurt – BIT Teatergarasjen

With the support of the DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the Collectif FAIR-E/CCN of Rennes and Bretagne

STEVEN COHEN COMPANY
24 rue Succursale | 33000 Bordeaux | France

Samuel Mateu
Production | +33(0)6.27.72.32.88
production[@]steven-cohen.com

The Steven Cohen Company is supported by
Drac Nouvelle-Aquitaine and by Conseil Départemental de la Gironde.
No event found!
[BOUDOIR] Fin d'une première année de tournée bouleversante en rencontres...

Boudoir, saison 22-23

[BOUDOIR] Fin d’une première année de tournée bouleversante en rencontres…

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[PRESSE] La Libre, 18 janvier 2023, par Marie Baudet

“L’extrême est mon seul vocabulaire”

[PRESSE] La Libre, 18 janvier 2023, par Marie Baudet

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[INTERVIEW] Les Halles de Schaerbeek, january 17, 2023, by Martin Zicari

“The flavour is us” – Four questions to Steven Cohen

[INTERVIEW] Les Halles de Schaerbeek, january 17, 2023, by Martin Zicari

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[AGENDA] In Brussels on January 23: Boudoir, Put your heart under your feet... and walk! as well as the

January 2023 in Belgium

[AGENDA] In Brussels on January 23: Boudoir, Put your heart under your feet… and walk! as well as the “Body Scenography” Workshop.

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[PRESS] Download the press review file (+ 10 articles in french)

Boudoir press review (in French)

[PRESS] Download the press review file (+ 10 articles in french)

Read more
[PRESSE] Les Inrockuptibles (nouvelle critique), 21 novembre 2022, par Jérôme Provençal

Steven Cohen se met à nu dans mon boudoir (les Inrockuptibles)

[PRESSE] Les Inrockuptibles (nouvelle critique), 21 novembre 2022, par Jérôme Provençal

Read more
[PRESSE] Mouvement, 16 novembre 2022, par Aïnhoa Jean-Calmettes

Steven Cohen en son boudoir (Mouvement)

[PRESSE] Mouvement, 16 novembre 2022, par Aïnhoa Jean-Calmettes

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[PRESSE] Toute la Culture, 16 novembre 2022, par Amélie Blaustein Niddam

Le monument Steven Cohen se regarde droit dans les yeux (Toute la culture)

[PRESSE] Toute la Culture, 16 novembre 2022, par Amélie Blaustein Niddam

Read more

Past performances

Nov 03 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 05 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 06 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 08 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 09 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 10 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 12 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 13 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 15 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 16 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne CH
  • Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Nov 24 2022

BOUDOIR

Le Centre Pompidou, Paris FR
  • Festival d'Automne de Paris
Nov 25 2022

BOUDOIR

Le Centre Pompidou, Paris FR
  • Festival d'Automne de Paris
Nov 26 2022

BOUDOIR

Le Centre Pompidou, Paris FR
  • Festival d'Automne de Paris
Dec 13 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre National de Bretagne, Rennes FR
Dec 14 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre National de Bretagne, Rennes FR
Dec 15 2022

BOUDOIR

Théâtre National de Bretagne, Rennes FR
Jan 20 2023

BOUDOIR

Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Bruxelles BE
Jan 21 2023

BOUDOIR

Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Bruxelles BE
Jan 22 2023

BOUDOIR

Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Bruxelles BE
Feb 10 2023

BOUDOIR

BIT Teatergarasjen, NO
Feb 11 2023

BOUDOIR

BIT Teatergarasjen, NO
Feb 23 2023

BOUDOIR

Schauspielhaus Zürich, CH
Feb 24 2023

BOUDOIR

Schauspielhaus Zürich, CH
Feb 25 2023

BOUDOIR

Schauspielhaus Zürich, CH
Mar 01 2023

BOUDOIR

Annecy FR
  • Bonlieu Annecy
Mar 02 2023

BOUDOIR

Annecy FR
  • Bonlieu Annecy
Mar 03 2023

BOUDOIR

Annecy FR
  • Bonlieu Annecy
Apr 03 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers FR
  • TAP - Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers
Apr 04 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers FR
  • TAP - Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers
Oct 03 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Garonne, Toulouse FR
  • Théâtre Garonne
Oct 04 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Garonne, Toulouse FR
  • Théâtre Garonne
Oct 06 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Garonne, Toulouse FR
  • Théâtre Garonne
Oct 07 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Garonne, Toulouse FR
  • Théâtre Garonne
Oct 08 2023

BOUDOIR

Théâtre Garonne, Toulouse FR
  • Théâtre Garonne
Jan 11 2024

BOUDOIR

Teatre Lliure, Barcelona ES
  • Katharsis festival
Jan 12 2024

BOUDOIR

Teatre Lliure, Barcelona ES
  • Katharsis festival
Jan 13 2024

BOUDOIR

Teatre Lliure, Barcelona ES
  • Katharsis festival
Apr 17 2024

BOUDOIR

Teatros del canal
  • Teatros del canal
Apr 18 2024

BOUDOIR

Teatros del canal
  • Teatros del canal
Apr 19 2024

BOUDOIR

Teatros del canal
  • Teatros del canal
Oct 04 2024

BOUDOIR

Théâtre de la Cité Internationale, Paris FR
  • Transforme festival
Oct 05 2024

BOUDOIR

Théâtre de la Cité Internationale, Paris FR
  • Transforme festival
Oct 06 2024

BOUDOIR

Théâtre de la Cité Internationale, Paris FR
  • Transforme festival
Jan 18 2025

BOUDOIR

Clermont-Ferrand, FR
  • Transforme festival
Jan 19 2025

BOUDOIR

Clermont-Ferrand, FR
  • Transforme festival
Mar 14 2025

BOUDOIR

Les SUBS, Lyon FR
  • Transforme festival
Mar 15 2025

BOUDOIR

Les SUBS, Lyon FR
  • Transforme festival
Mar 16 2025

BOUDOIR

Les SUBS, Lyon FR
  • Transforme festival
No event found!
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