« Exposer les tabous au grand jour » – théâtre politique (?) de Céline Delbecq

Abstract

The objective of the article is to analyse the creative output of the Belgian author Celine Delbecq in order to resolve the issue of whether, and to what extent, her theatre can be termed a political theatre. To this end, the notion of cité, adapted to the field of theatre by Bérénice Hamidi-Kim, has been invoked. The analysis demonstrates that the theatre of the Belgian author draws on three types of cité. First, it is inspired by the political ecumenical theatre, revealing social injustices, giving rise to a democratic debate on them, as well as highlighting the socially engaged stance of the artist herself. Second, Delbecq’s plays aspire to restore the theatrical and political community. Third, it is a theatre of political struggle that is based on recording the facts, informing the audience of these, while dispensing justice, all in a form of epic theatre that employs parables.