Théâtre du Soleil and Ariane Mnouchkine: living and performing gender politics

Paris-based theatre company The´a^tre du Soleil has had an ongoing concern since its formation in 1964 with a progressive gender politics. This chapter shows how the company’s identity and work were shaped by both materialist and other more theoretical/philosophical strands of second-wave feminism of the 1970s in their emphasis on egalitarian labour conditions and on rethinking the gendered implications of language, cultural representation and creative working practices. Concluding with an analysis of their 2003 pro- duction Le Dernier Caravanse´rail, the chapter argues that the company’s treat- ment of global migration and asylum-seeking was in part aimed at highlighting women’s experiences while also conveying the ethical challenges of represent- ing the female migrant other through performance.