La Peste | The Plague

Dr. Rieux discovers the body of a rat on a doorstep. A few days later, a press agency announces that over six thousand rats had been collected that very day. The anxiety grows. The caretaker of the Rieux building succumbs to a violent and mysterious illness. More and more people die. After much reluctance and red tape, Rieux manages to make the authorities aware of the epidemic and decides to close the town. The town gradually becomes isolated. The plague is not just a health crisis, but a metaphor for a deeper political, societal and, above all, personal crisis. Albert Camus’s novel tells a story of death, isolation and despair, of love, solidarity and liberation: a chronicle of the absurd, revolt and humanism. In his staging, Frank Hoffmann concentrates on the very essence of La peste (The Plague), Albert Camus’ major work, inventing a form that is particularly conducive to theatricality. Faithful to the spirit of the original work, Florian Hirsch has developed with Hoffmann a true drama in five acts with a multitude of characters – performed by two captivating actors, Marie Jung and François Camus, who were awarded the first Luxembourg Theatre Award in 2021 for their respective performances.

Photos: Bohumil Kostohryz