Today, more than ever, in an urgent and dazzling way we have to defend the fundamental basis of our culture. For the last 5 years, in order to counteract the growing intellectual desertification and to fight against the ready-to-wear thought that is unique to mass culture, we have staged “The Manifest, International gathering for a Motivated Theatre”
For 10 days , from Friday 4 th July to Monday 14 th July, the invited directors will work with the people to create objects of political theatre, which will be shown on Friday 11 th, Saturday 12 th and Sunday 13 th July at the “ Palais du Littoral” in Grande-Synthe.
During the course of these 3 days, debates and shows which present and explore the taboos of our society will take place consecutively.In this, the 5 th edition, we will work with homosexuality, Joseph Kabila and the entysim of the workings of the national education system, and mans' desire for destruction.
In brief, put aside any pre-conceived ideas, this will blow your hair back.
On site to freshen up: a cafeteria, drinks stand, and a made-to-measure bookshop.
The manifest is an enclove of utopia in a world of daily existence prey to super-imposed values.
The Manifest is a collective space, rich in possibilities, and which encourages resistance to all that paralyzes creative intelligence.
Come taste the theatre, the freedom of expression, its rare and inexpensive, doesn’t pollute and is inexhaustible.
Brigitte Mounier

5:30pm Opening of the Manifest
Opening of the bookstore and drinks stand
6pm Representation of the workshop directed by Antoine Pickels
Bodies with Thought
7pm Debate: “Sex and Citizenship”
Lead by Sandrine Verstavel, head of “Egide” Centre for lesbian, gay, bi and trans’ associations. Where are we today with freedom of sexuality in our democracy?
8pm Meal
European cheeses with French and Italian wines
Produced by Antoine Pickels with Christophe Garcia and Cedric Lenoir
A father takes up the story of his sons' death one night in a park following a homophobic attack. One evening, in the same park, whilst searching for traces of his son, he meets two men whom he thinks are his sons murderers. He then discovers in himself an attraction for these masculine bodies, but flees. This question of ‘nomination’ takes centre place in “ In Nomine”. Today Antoine Pickels opens up a critical, internal discussion on homosexual codes and ways of life. In 2005 "In Nomine" received the Theatre Prize for best author awarded by the Belgian press
Attention: Show prohibited to unaccompanied 16 year olds
11pm Meet and greet with invited artists
6pm Representation of the workshop I am not only the light but YOUR light.
directed by Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe
This workshop will be centred on the manipulation of the body - at times dominant, at times dominated - and, more importantly, on the transformation of individuals into stars. We will use a very simple set-up in which “spectators” are transformed into principal actors in order to underline an African and more precisely Congolese particularity, whereby from one day to the next we can make a sergeant of a lance corporal, a Preacher of an atheist. It is a direct allusion to the destiny of the young Joseph Kabida, who, following the death of his father, would become the self-proclaimed president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
7pm Debate: " Africa, Traffic, Money "
Animated by Colette Braeckman, journalist for the daily paper "Le Soir " (Belgium).Charged with current events for " Le Soir " and the diplomatic world, Colettete Breakman possesses information which certain European companies prefer her to keep quiet.
8pm African Meal
9:30 pm Show " Concerto for noisy bodies "
Produced and choreographed by Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe, with Sandra Moens, Jessica Leborgne, Bilé N'Draman, Ener Tambwe
How could one of the largest African countries, The Democratic Republic of Congo, after many years of dictators, having been kept alive by the pseudo-paternalistic figures of its diverse leaders, get back on its feet after the economic stagnation we've plunged it into?Important question. Especially when money isn't the only thing missing. The exacerbated individualism that is linked to the extreme conditions of life, indeed survival, and the impossible hope of throwing oneself towards a better future have corrodedthe cement that up to now good as much bad, has bound togther an entire population.
who is Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe?
11pm Meet and greet with invited artists
4:30pm Café concert led by Nadèe de Kersbiec
Through extracts from the works of Ligeti, Stockhausen and Reibel, Nadège de Kersbiec and her participants enable one to contemplate an original collective piece! A world first...
6pm Representation of " Economic and Musical Fantasy for Pokéon, Jordan, his mother and the national education system"
Based on " Le Dirigeant" by Jean-Charles Massera( Editions La Découverte)
Production: Brigitte Mounier
with the participation of Céine Brunelle, Cyril Brisse, and the Pokémons
Workshop lead and produced by Brigitte Mounier
It's the meeting between the CEO of a multi-national Pokémon(magical creature)- manufacturing concern and a mother, in this case a cleaning lady in one of the large distribution centres of the toy. The mother tries to explain to the CEO the difficulties that her son, Jordan's teacher has brought to her attention, namely Jordan's problems with reading and his lack of concentration and interest in the class. The manufacturer puts forward positive arguments for the creativity of the imaginary world of children and teenagers and the financial gain that this imagination can, must, and will bring forth on the growing market of magical figurines.
7 pm Debate: " From the child king to the child prey "
Animated by Françis Brune (Acrimed – Le Monde Diplomatique)
On one side of the planet children produce, on the other they consume... The multi-nationals have undoubtedly anticipated everything everything
8pm Meal
Seafood of the North, arrosés d'écume des jours ( fairly dry)
9:30pm Show " Bloody Niggers!" by Dorcy Kugamba
Conception and adaptation: Younouss Diallo
Production: Jacque Delcuvellerce
Musical score: Pierre Etinne

On an open stage, three actors involve the political terrain as one would enter into a fight. By taking a stance by eyeing up and down your adversary, by handing out the punches. In the on-going quarrels about the positive role of colonialisation, it's a question of making the voices heard, strong and without concession, of the " bastards" born out of the forced marriages between the former colonisers and their citizens. In the name of what does one population allow to control or have at its disposal another? Moreover: what have Africans done with 40 years of independence?
The term " Bloody niggers" is not used here to designate any particular racebut a community of destines. It's about those who, one day or another, will be considered as anl inferior humanity and treated as such.
This show, based above all on speech, uses all means of expresion permitted by theatre, from music to videos, from games to dance, speech to songs.
What the press has to say...
Rue du théatre: "The damned of the earth speak"
Le Soir: "With Bloddy Niggers! le Groupov becomes even more radical. Jacques Delcuvellerie sets out to show that the barbaric part of Europe is never accidental. He achieves this in a breathtaking manner, with a creation that surpasses the traditional stakes of theatre.
Evene.fr: "Finally a theatre rough and direct as life knows how to be. Finally theatre that is radical and necessary, just as the Belgian producer Jacques Delcuvellerie loves."
11pm Meet and greet with invited artists.

Workshop led by Jean-Maurice Boudeulle and Pierre Boudeulle
From 4 th July to 14 th July 2008, 2pm-6pm/8:30pm-10:30pm
The interventions of the group of re-actors will punctuate at various moments the three days of the Manifest, in all public places of the town, markets, town hall, multi-media library, squares, and of course the "Palais du Littoral" It's interventionist theatre in the purest sense of "agir-prop", "living theatre".
A work of expression and of urgent and citizened artistic reaction, based on happenings, oddities, and realities-local or international, ecological, political, economic.Using the various techniques of live theatre: song, puppets, spoken choralsthey will creaete links in different parts of the town between the Manifest and the local inhabitants.

who is Jean Maurice Boudeulle?
The Bookstore
Opening of a bookstore, at the Palais du Littoral, in partnership with "le Marais du livre" in Hazebrouck and the theatrical bookstore, " Dialogue Théâtre" in Lille.
The drinks stand
You will find neither Coco-Cola, nor Fanta, but fruit juices, beers, cordials and coffees from small local producers.
The cafeteria
For 5 Euros you can eat a tastyoriginal cuisine from around the world
The tarifs
A day pass: 7 Euro (full tarif) 4 Euro( reduced tarif*)
3 day pass: 15 Euro (Full tarif)
Free to all beneficiaries of " la carte culture" ( cultural card)
*job seekers, students, groups of 10 or more people, subscribers to the Palais du Littoral, adherents of "La Compagnie des Mers du Nord "
Meal: 5 Euros
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