Arts & Culture

A Celebration of 50 Years of Theatre du Soleil

A selection of Martine Franck's photographs celebrating 50 years of the prestigious work of the Theatre du Soleil

Martine Franck

Martine Franck Theatrical company Théâtre du Soleil performing '1789' directed by Ariane Mnouchkine. Cartoucherie de Vincennes, Paris, France. 1970. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Ariane Mnouchkine. Director of Théâtre du Soleil. '1789' Rehearsal. Cartoucherie de Vincennes, Paris, France. 1970. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Théâtre du Soleil 'Le Dernier Caravansérail' 2ème Partie 'Origines et Destins'. 2003. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Arianne Mnouchkine directing in the late stages of rehearsal with one of the children who plays in 'Le Dernier Caravansérail.' Théâtre du Soleil. 2003. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Théâtre du Soleil, 'Le Tartuffe' by Molière, Brontis Jodorowsky, Renata Ramos Maza, J.Carneiro da Cunha. 1995. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Théâtre du Soleil, 'Les Clowns". Maquillage. Création en collaboration avec le Théâtre d'Aubervilliers. 1969. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Théâtre du Soleil. Ariane Mnouchkine (on the right) during a rehearsal of 'Richard II'. Paris, France. 1981. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck Cartoucherie de Vincennes. The Théâtre du Soleil during the performance of Shakespeare's 'Richard II', translated and directed by Ariane Mnouchkine, scenery by Guy-Claude Francois, masks by Erhard (...)
Martine Franck Theatrical company Théâtre du Soleil performing Shakespeare's 'Henry IV', with Maurice Durozier playing Douglas. 1984. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck The French theatre director Ariane Mnouchkine, and also manager of the Théâtre du Soleil. Paris, France. 1970. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck One of the most famous creations of the Théâtre du Soleil – '1793', at the Cartoucherie de Vincennes. Paris, France. 1972. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos
Martine Franck French Théâtre du Soleil director Ariane Mnouchkine during the rehearsal of 'Les Clowns'. 1970. © Martine Franck | Magnum Photos

Since its foundation in 1964 the Theatre du Soleil has staged more than 20 plays, such as Les Naufrages du Fol Espoir (2010), Les Ephemeres (2006), Le Dernier Caravanserail (2003), Moliere’s Le Tartuffe (1995), Euripides’ Iphigenie a Aulis (1990), Shakespeare’s Henry IV (1984), 1789 (1970), and has produced 9 films.

During all these years Martine Franck documented Ariane Mnouchkine and her troupe and took countless photos of the rehearsals as well as the performances.

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