The Théâtre du Blanc-Mesnil is (already) betting on entertainment with a view to its reopening

Thierry Meignen and Philippe Bellot are two optimistic men. While the theaters have been desperately closed for almost six months, the mayor (Libres!) du Blanc-Mesnil and the director of the théâtre de la ville have already established the programming for the 2021-2022 cultural season.

“It’s not that early,” he said. Usually the programming is completed by the end of March at the latest. “Managing director of Group Soumère, which manages a dozen public service venues in Ile-de-France such as the Massy Opera (Essonne), Philippe Bellot is therefore planning to return in September, which he imagines rich in concerts, plays and comedy shows.

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“The artists have only one idea in mind: to get back on stage,” he says, citing Julien Clerc as an example. The performer of “C’est rien” and “Fais moi une place”, who inaugurated in 2019 the Théâtre du Blanc-Mesnil enlarged and renovated with a free concert, will go on tour again next November. He will perform again in the commune on February 5, 2022.

Of the 45 major dates scheduled from next September, just under a third are postponements of the current season. This is particularly the case with the concerts of Stephan Eicher (September 25), Yannick Noah (December 11) and Patricia Kaas (January 22) or Michel Drucker’s last show (April 2).

“It’s a choice, and I think it will be the right one”

In this “popular but demanding” program, says Thierry Meignen, “we have been particularly attentive to offering an entertaining season, more than in previous years,” adds the theater director. “It’s a choice and I think it will be the right one,” he said. People will need to laugh more than cry. We’re all sick of it. »

Spectators in search of humor will be able to applaud Eric Antoine (October 17), Booder (November 12), Baptiste Lecaplain (November 26), Jarry (January 15), Patrick Timsit (February 4), Élie Semoun (February 18), the youtuber Lola Dubini (March 12), Verino (April 9), Donel Jack’sman (April 16) or Christelle Chollet (the date is not yet fixed).

Shows to which are added several boulevard plays featuring Chantal Ladesou, Norbert Tarayre or Patrick Sébastien, as well as “festive” concerts dedicated to the 1990s, musicals or artists from the Caribbean. “It’s a pretty mainstream program,” admits Philippe Bellot. People need to regain their spirits. »