12. Madách International Theatre Meeting

Practiced in the language of Racine, the troupe of the Comédie-Française presents Berenice, directed by Guy Cassiers, a major figure in Flemish theatre. This production offers multiple avenues for reflection, as Cassiers’ work consistently explores European history and the weight of political discourse while also paying particular attention to the human dimension of literature. Berenice provides a plot reduced to its purest expression, centered on the turmoil of emotions. Upon ascending to the throne following his father’s death, Emperor Titus must decide whether to honor or renounce his promise of ma riage to Berenice, as the Senate refuses to accept his union with a foreign queen. In Cassiers’ interpretation, Berenice emerges as a strong and resolute figure, set against the weakness of Titus and his friend Antiochus, who secretly harbors feelings for her as well. These two men of power present themselves as victims of circumstance, torn between personal desire and political duty. In this way, Racine’s tragedy is reimagined in an innovative form, blending the classicism of the text with striking visual modernity. The entire stage transformes a realm of phantasmagoria, where reality itself unravels—most notably for Berenice, as she gradually loses her grasp on the world around her.