French theatre tackles the devastating Grenfell moment in Marseille, a disaster that exposed France's deep-seated urban inequality and social deprivation issues. The catastrophic event on November 5th, 2018, resulted in eight fatalities, sending shockwaves across the nation and galvanizing public outcry.
Playwright and director Mathilde Aurier has woven her experiences of personal loss, social struggle, and community solidarity into a powerful theatrical response to this catastrophe. Through her debut play, 65 Rue d'Aubagne, she distills the heart-wrenching stories of those affected by the disaster into an immersive performance.
Aurier drew inspiration from her encounter with a survivor on Marseille beach, whose narrative resonated deeply with her own experiences of trauma and social marginalization. Her writing not only pays tribute to the victims but also illuminates the inner lives of those seeking justice and solace in the face of indifference.
With 65 Rue d'Aubagne, Aurier tackles themes of existential crisis, identity fragmentation, and collective resilience in a city beset by gentrification and failed promises. Her theatrical vision weaves together multiple perspectives and voices to create an unsettling yet captivating portrayal of a society struggling to confront its dark underbelly.
While the play's production has sparked much attention, there are concerns about systemic change in Marseille's crumbling infrastructure and effective accountability for those responsible. The playwright acknowledges that her efforts alone may be insufficient, but hopes that 65 Rue d'Aubagne can contribute to a broader national conversation on urban inequality.
Ultimately, Aurier sees her work as part of an ongoing struggle to unearth the painful truths beneath France's idyllic façade and confront the urgent need for meaningful reform in cities like Marseille.
Playwright and director Mathilde Aurier has woven her experiences of personal loss, social struggle, and community solidarity into a powerful theatrical response to this catastrophe. Through her debut play, 65 Rue d'Aubagne, she distills the heart-wrenching stories of those affected by the disaster into an immersive performance.
Aurier drew inspiration from her encounter with a survivor on Marseille beach, whose narrative resonated deeply with her own experiences of trauma and social marginalization. Her writing not only pays tribute to the victims but also illuminates the inner lives of those seeking justice and solace in the face of indifference.
With 65 Rue d'Aubagne, Aurier tackles themes of existential crisis, identity fragmentation, and collective resilience in a city beset by gentrification and failed promises. Her theatrical vision weaves together multiple perspectives and voices to create an unsettling yet captivating portrayal of a society struggling to confront its dark underbelly.
While the play's production has sparked much attention, there are concerns about systemic change in Marseille's crumbling infrastructure and effective accountability for those responsible. The playwright acknowledges that her efforts alone may be insufficient, but hopes that 65 Rue d'Aubagne can contribute to a broader national conversation on urban inequality.
Ultimately, Aurier sees her work as part of an ongoing struggle to unearth the painful truths beneath France's idyllic façade and confront the urgent need for meaningful reform in cities like Marseille.
. anyway, kudos to Mathilde Aurier for using her platform to bring attention to this important topic & give a voice to those who've been silenced 
. gotta wonder if this play will be able to spark some real change tho...
i mean, i know what sounds weird talking about baked goods on a serious news thread but honestly i needed a little pick-me-up after reading this article... anyway, it got me thinking, have you ever noticed how some cities have these perfect instagrammable streets and then if you dig deeper they're all like Marseille? just saying 
I'm so proud of Mathilde Aurier for using her platform to shed light on this such important issue. It's amazing how theatre can bring people together and spark conversations that might not be happening otherwise. I love how she weaves the personal stories of those affected into a larger tapestry of social commentary - it's like she's holding up a mirror to Marseille, showing us all the complexities and flaws. 
I'm also super excited to see her play tackling these big themes of existential crisis and collective resilience - it's going to be a wild ride! 
Can't wait to read more about how this production is impacting the conversation around urban inequality in France... 
anyway i had a friend who lives in marseille and she told me that gentrification has been going on for years and its affecting so many people already her sister actually lost her job cuz of a building renovation in their neighborhood it was really sad to see how systemic this problem is but at the same time i feel like the play is a great step forward in bringing attention to these issues maybe we can all just try to be more empathetic and understanding towards each other 
its literally based on a real person who survived the disaster and i can only imagine how traumatic it must be to go through something like that again by reliving it on stage lol anyway idk what else to say but that the playwright is trying so hard to bring attention to this issue which is still super relevant today 
my grandma lives in marseille and she's always complaining about the state of the city 
i feel her though gentrification is real and it's killing our communities 
The way she weaves together the stories of those affected by Grenfell (which was basically a disaster that exposed France's deep-seated urban inequality & social deprivation issues) is just so powerful 
I mean, I know it's not easy to talk about trauma & identity fragmentation but Aurier is doing it with such sensitivity & respect 
But Aurier's play is more than just a response to Grenfell, it's also a call to action for systemic change & accountability 
I love how she acknowledges that her work alone may not be enough but hopes it can contribute to a broader national conversation 
We need more people like Mathilde Aurier who are willing to tackle these tough issues head-on 
. hope 65 Rue d'Aubagne inspires real change in Marseille & beyond 
OMG I'm DYING over this new play 65 Rue d'Aubagne!!! Mathilde Aurier is a genius!!! I mean, she's not only created this powerful story that tackles the devastating Grenfell disaster but also gives voice to those who've been marginalized and silenced for so long 
. And can we talk about how relevant this play is to France's social issues right now? 
. We NEED more voices like hers pushing for change 
. But, you know, I wish there was more attention on the systemic changes we need to make in Marseille's infrastructure... it's not just about creating art, we need concrete solutions 
.
. Can you imagine having to live with the fear of gentrification and feeling like your community is being ignored? 
but what i think i'm most impressed by is her bravery in sharing the survivor's story. that takes so much courage 
? i mean, it's been ages since the grenfell disaster & nothing's changed 
. As a parent, it breaks my heart to think about all the families affected by these disasters - kids, parents, siblings... and how they're struggling to make ends meet and find justice 
Anyway, hope Mathilde Aurier's play sparks some real change, not just more emotional performances. We need concrete solutions to these systemic problems, you feel me? 
it's crazy how one tragedy can expose so much depth in a city's problems. As someone who's struggled with feeling overwhelmed by the state of urban inequality, I'm both inspired and frustrated that we're still having these conversations