Creation 2007 Imaginary situations

The mannequin’s revolt

"The mannequin's revolt" is a new street performance proposal, created for the twentieth anniversary of the International Puppet Institute of Charleville-Mézières.

Royal de Luxe develops another way of interracting with the spectator. Each window has its own simple story based on the emotions of life.

The first mannequin that was returned to the city of London was found in 1750 by Lord Baker whilst sailing the Pacific in search of French privateers.

Having stopped at an unknown island, he witnessed the sinking of a boat. There were no human beings on the horizon, but there was a body floating near the wreck ; it was an ample female bust made of wicker.

Back in England, he presented his discovery to the queen. Her counselors, probably frightened by the potentially negative consequences this female form could have on the population, hurried to hide it in a cell of a French Chateau.

One hundred years later, Empress Eugenie who was curious and innovative, took the mannequin out from the castle cellar. The object, which was in deplorable condition, was taken charge of by Archbishop Alexis de Lavygne, inventor of the flexible centimeter and the Empress’s personal tailor.Having padded it with fabric and covered it with leather, he turned it into something close to a living person, able to wear clothes.

In 1900, a little known Dutchman developed the mass production of anatomical models, which was a huge success at the World Expo. But several months later, this same Dutchman went mad, and killed himself stating that tears often ran on the faces of his creations. For him, no doubt these models were prisoners in their shells.

In 1952, the company Segrel Stockman devised a revolutionary method of reproduction. With the mannequins multiplying, they displayed a remarkable ability to adapt, using newly invented materials. During this time, a group of philosophers developed the thesis of the probable existence of emotion in these sophisticated mannequins.

A witness declared he had seen some at night, passing through windows without being damaged, then walking from to shop to shop. From then on, everything picked up pace : department stores covered up rumors of the real existence of these plastic individuals, and they were then colonized.

Thus began, the story of the inhumane exploitation of mannequins by man.

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Press

« â€˜Spécial’, ‘étrange’, ‘stupéfiant’… Rue Franklin, de Feltre, de la Fosse ou de la Barillère, on n’avait jamais vu ‘ça’. Les Nantais connaissent pourtant depuis vingt ans les ‘folies’ de Jean-Luc Courcoult, avec sa compagnie Royal de Luxe, implantée ici.  »

La Croix - 04/02/2008

« 'Ce sont huit histoires liées à nos peurs, nos cauchemars, nos fantasmes… des histoires simples que les enfants pourront comprendre.' Jean-Luc Courcoult »

L’ardennois - 25/10/2007

« La dernière folie de Royal de Luxe.  »

La Croix - 04/02/2008

« Dans une dizaine de vitrines de magasins, plusieurs mannequins se sont révoltés. Des mannequins aux visages expressifs, vivant de véritables histoires et tentant de s’échapper de leurs prisons de verre.  »

L’Expansion - Juillet / août 2008

« Dans une dizaine de vitrines de magasins, plusieurs mannequins se sont révoltés. Des mannequins aux visages expressifs, vivant de véritables histoires et tentant de s’échapper de leurs prisons de verre.  »

L’Expansion - Juillet / août 2008

« Comme chaque nouvelle histoire de Jean-Luc Courcoult, cette révolte des mannequins promène le spectateur entre réalité et imaginaire.  »

L’Expansion - Juillet / août 2008

« â€˜Mannequins are usually perfect’ Courcoult said of his Perth International Arts Festival show […]. But here, they are like normal people.  »

West Australian - 24/02/2009

« The point of it is always to touch people in the heart of the city and shops are something people walk past or see every day. It is another way to get people’s imagination fired up and to open up their minds » Anne-Marie Vennel, Assistant Director. »

West Australian - 2009

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