On the one hand, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, a major literary figure of 16th-century England, a powerful, multilingual woman of astonishing erudition; on the other, William Shakespeare, famous English author whose authorship does not cease however to be questioned because of an obscure and discordant biography with his work. Starting from this double observation, researcher Robin P. Williams formulates (and supports!) a provocative hypothesis: What if Shakespeare were a woman… Artist associated with the Îlets theatre, Aurore Évain offers us to explore, with rigor, erudition and humour, this bold proposal, in complicity with the actress Isabelle Gomez. Researcher in women’s history and director, Aurore Évain has accompanied the Journées du Matrimoine des Îlets since its inauguration in 2016. In 2017, she presented, with Isabelle Gomez in distribution, the first edition in France for 350 years of Marie-Catherine De Villedieu’s text, Le Favori.
Based on Robin P. Williams' essay Sweet Swan of Avon, Did a Woman Write Shakespeare? • translation, adaptation and direction Aurore Évain • artistic collaboration Isabelle Gomez • exterior look Anne Segal • with Aurore Évain and Isabelle Gomez • scenography Carmen Mariscal • costumes Tanya Artioli • essay by Robin P. Williams Sweet Swan of Avon, Did a Woman Write Shakespeare? is published by Wilton Circle Press (2006)
Additional information: planned duration 1h15 – from 14 years