Arlette, 1010 years old

Show "alone on stage"

“Arlette, 1010 years” is a theatrical performance blending imagination and historical research, born from the work of medievalist Véronique Gazeau dedicated to Arlette of Falaise, mother of William the Conqueror.

Led by Dominique Birien, author and performer, this monologue takes the form of a punk historical narrative, both free and documented, in which Arlette emerges between Robert the Magnificent and his son William to reclaim her voice and presence.
Directed by Jérémie Fabre, the show is constructed as a sonic and visual riddle, alternating between documentary storytelling and the progressive embodiment of the character. The creation is supported by original music from Garz and a set designed by Solenne Musseau, contributing to an atmosphere that is both contemporary and rooted in medieval memory.

This proposal is part of a broader reflection on written history and its blind spots.

Based on a personal journey rooted in Normandy, where the figure of William the Conqueror is prominent through landscapes, monuments, and heritage narratives, a question emerges about the one who remains on the margins of these great stories: Arlette.

Sometimes described as a mere laundress, sometimes as a strong-willed woman, she appears in the sources in fragmented and often contradictory forms. Historical research, however, reminds us that in the 11th century, a concubine could receive genuine social recognition, which nuances the inherited representations.

Through these questions, the show examines the mechanisms of transmission: who writes history, what do we choose to remember or exclude, which narratives traverse the centuries and which fade away? While the conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings occupy a central place in memories, the figure of Arlette remains largely absent. The show explores these silences, evokes uncertainties — absence of an identified tomb, rarity of sources, possible erasures — and opens a space for an alternative voice.

By breathing life back into Arlette, “Arlette, 1010 years” offers a sensitive and contemporary approach to medieval history.

At the crossroads of theater and research, it brings forth a singular voice, that of a woman situated before the myth, and invites us to reconsider the forgotten figures, those who, on the margins of heroic narratives, nonetheless fully participate in history.

Practical information:
All audiences
Duration: 1h
Free

Partnerships: Château de Falaise and Théâtre le Forum de Falaise