Anachronisms and Other Creative Liberties… Fully Embraced
At Terres d'Histoire, we strive to tell the past with passion and emotion. However, we fully embrace the fact that our show is not a strict historical reproduction. Anachronisms, particularly in costumes, are not mistakes but deliberate artistic or practical choices.
Costumes: Between Authenticity and Practical Constraints
With nearly 2,000 costumes needed to represent six different historical periods, wardrobe design is a colossal challenge. Accurately reproducing each outfit using period fabrics and techniques would be impractical due to both budgetary and logistical constraints.
Our choices are therefore guided by:
Modern materials: We use contemporary fabrics that mimic the appearance of historical textiles (synthetic linen, modern brocades, etc.). These choices allow us to balance aesthetics with reasonable costs.
Overall visual coherence: Colors, styles, and textures are sometimes simplified or enhanced to ensure better visibility for the audience, particularly from a distance.
These choices help preserve the spirit of the historical periods represented while making the performance accessible to a wide audience.
Adaptations for actors' comfort: Historical costumes, often heavy and rigid, are redesigned to facilitate movement, especially in dance or combat scenes.
The dance choreographies: between reconstruction and modernity
The dances presented in Terres d'Histoire are the result of a process that combines historical research with artistic adaptation. While some choreographies draw inspiration from period descriptions or illustrations, others deliberately incorporate anachronisms, particularly for the oldest periods where reliable sources are scarce.
Why These Adaptations?
A Lack of Precise Sources for Ancient Dances
Medieval dances, for example, are often poorly documented. The exact movements and steps were rarely recorded, which leads us to create choreographies based on the few available testimonies, as well as our own creativity.
Making the Dances Accessible to the Audience
Some historical dances, sometimes very simple or repetitive, are enriched to captivate the audience and better fit the rhythm of the performance.
Adapting for Volunteers
Our dancers are often enthusiasts who learn the choreographies in a short amount of time. We simplify certain complex steps while preserving the essence of historical styles.
Choices Guided by Aesthetics and Emotion
For the oldest periods, the dances are recreated to evoke the festive or solemn spirit of the time. We focus on:
- Group formations: to reflect the collective figures of medieval dances.
- Stylized gestures: often inspired by iconography or folk traditions.
- An adapted rhythm: to match the more modern or reinterpreted music accompanying these scenes.
These choreographies, while sometimes distant from their original forms, retain their central role: transporting the audience to another era and enhancing the emotional impact of the living tableaux.
The Vikings: From Flaming Swords to Bold Heroines
In the act dedicated to the Vikings, some elements may surprise history purists. These deliberate anachronisms have been incorporated to enrich the visual and emotional experience:
While this spectacular weapon is historically unlikely, it symbolizes the brutal and impressive nature of the era's confrontations. This purely scenic choice aims to captivate the audience and make the battles more dynamic.
By making Aliénor a strong woman who orders the Vikings to leave Breton lands, we highlight a bold female character. Although such a strategic role for a woman would be unrealistic for the time, it reflects modern values of equality and courage.
In the act dedicated to the Vikings, some elements may surprise history purists. These deliberate anachronisms have been integrated to enrich the visual and emotional experience:
The Flaming Sword:
While this spectacular weapon is historically unlikely, it symbolizes the brutal and impressive nature of the era's confrontations. This purely scenic choice aims to captivate the audience and make the battles more dynamic.
The Role of Aliénor:
By making Aliénor a strong woman who orders the Vikings to leave Breton lands, we highlight a bold female character. Although such a strategic role for a woman would be unrealistic for the time, it reflects modern values of equality and courage.
These artistic liberties allow us to tell a vibrant story while evoking the real tensions between the Vikings and the Bretons.
Anne de Bretagne
The act explores the life of Anne of Brittany and the rising religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants. Some anachronisms are integrated for artistic or educational reasons:
The "Andro" Dance Introduced in Hennebont:
The andro is presented as a "new dance from the Vannes region." However, this popular Breton dance is more closely associated with the 19th century than the 15th century of Anne of Brittany.
Why this choice?: Incorporating a well-known Breton dance helps anchor the act in a recognizable regional culture, making it more accessible to the audience, while also celebrating local heritage.
The Relationship Between Anne of Brittany and Her Subjects:
The dialogue between Anne and the villagers is scripted to reflect an emotional closeness between the duchess and her people, which is not necessarily confirmed by historical records.
Why this choice?: This humanizes the duchess and strengthens her image as the protector of Brittany, a key message of the performance.
The Huguenots and the Wars of Religion
This act illustrates the religious and social tensions in Brittany during the 16th century, with narrative choices that take historical liberties.
The Role of Gislain:
Gislain, the son of a Breton Catholic, declares himself a Huguenot and openly debates Luther's theses, even though he is portrayed as illiterate.
Why this choice?: This allows us to symbolize the generational conflict and the impact of reformist ideas even on the lower classes. This character embodies the social and religious divide of the time.
The Destruction of the Church by the Huguenots:
The staging shows the Huguenots setting fire to a church in Châtellier, a dramatic act that generalizes the violent actions of Protestants.
Why this choice?: Although based on real events, this element is amplified to visually highlight the brutality of the conflicts and emotionally engage the audience.
The Interpretation of the Edict of Nantes:
Henry IV solemnly announces the Edict of Nantes, declaring "Catholics and Huguenots, you are my people," simplifying its content.
Why this choice?: The simplification makes the Edict and its impact easily understandable for a wide audience, while underscoring its historical significance.
The Red Bonnets: A Dream at the Heart of Rebellion
The act dedicated to the Red Bonnets blends historical reality with dreamlike narration, creating a striking depiction of the 1675 peasant revolt against the taxes imposed by Louis XIV. This combination of history and dream allows for the exploration of the characters' emotions while providing a visually impactful staging.
A Dream at the Heart of the Battle:
During the second part of the battle between the villagers and the king's dragons, the story shifts into a dream experienced by Antoinette. This dreamlike passage includes:
The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, which suddenly appears as a vision symbolizing the oppressive power of Louis XIV. This anachronistic set, in the context of the Red Bonnets, highlights the contrast between the luxury of the royal court and the living conditions of the Breton peasants.
- The dance of the nobles, an elegant and lavish scene, reflects the vast gap between the lives of the courtiers and those of the rebels. This dreamlike scene amplifies the tension between social injustice and Antoinette's aspirations for a fairer and more harmonious world
A Narrative and Artistic Choice:
This dream adds an emotional and poetic dimension to the act. It illustrates the characters' aspirations while highlighting the contrasts between the realities of different social classes of the time.
This blend of history and imagination enriches the narrative, offering an interpretation of the social tensions of 1675 that is both accessible and spectacular.
Electricity in Châteaulin
The arrival of electricity in 1887 is a pivotal moment, enriched with humorous and symbolic touches.
The "Electric Fairy" and Explosions:
The term "electric fairy" and the scenes exaggerating explosions and electrical accidents add a comedic and dramatic aspect to a historical moment.
Why this choice?: It illustrates the resistance to progress and the awe surrounding a technological revolution. The humor makes this scene lighter and more engaging.
Raymonde's Reluctance:
Raymonde refuses the electrical connection and clings to her oil lamps, reflecting a caricature of the fears surrounding new technologies.
Why this choice?: This character embodies resistance to change while creating a humorous contrast with the enthusiasm of the other characters.
Dialogue and Modern Perception:
The dialogues include contemporary expressions to describe electricity and its impact, which is anachronistic for the time.
Why this choice?: These expressions make the scene more accessible and relatable to the modern audience.
The Roaring Twenties: Between War and Charleston
The act that spans the Roaring Twenties includes artistic choices that link two historical periods, even though they are not strictly contemporary:
The Charleston:
Popularized in Europe during the 1920s, the Charleston is not directly connected to the American soldiers of World War I. However, its inclusion symbolizes the cultural influence of America and the festive spirit that marked the interwar period.
Post-War Optimism:
Although the euphoria of the Roaring Twenties did exist, it was not universal. By focusing on joyful and dreamy characters, we simplify the reality to convey a message of resilience and hope.
These choices reflect our desire to combine emotion, spectacle, and education, while offering accessible and spectacular scenes.