Not shying away from any risks

Thomas Jolly takes us backstage during the rehearsals for La Monnaie’s brand new opera Macbeth Underworld. France’s latest Shakespeare-sensation talked to us at length about his latest project, the collaboration with Pascal Dusapin and the atmosphere at our opera house.

Macbeth Underworld is a house debut for Thomas Jolly who, in no time, grew to be one of the key-figures of the French theatre scene. Leading his own troupe La Piccola Familia, the actor and director had his breakthrough with Shakespeare’s Henry VI (2010-2014), a tetralogy played in its entirety during an 18-hour marathon showing at the Festival d’Avignon. Four years later, he opened the 72^nd edition of the festival with Thyeste (after Seneca) at the Cour d’honneur. Thomas Jolly has staged two opera’s, debuting at the Paris Opera with Eliogabalo (Cavalli), followed by Fantasio (Offenbach) for the Opéra Comique.