Cécile Roussat and Julien Lubek met in 2000 while studying the Art of Mime with world-renowned Master Marcel Marceau. After graduating from the International School of Dramatic Corporeal Mime in Paris, they trained for several years in drama, acrobatics, puppet theatre, dance and illusion in various institutions including the Centre National des Arts du Cirque.
Since 2004, they have been developing a unique theatrical identity, through visual, poetical and multidisciplinary shows.
Early on, renowned conductors have sought their collaboration as directors for staged musical productions: Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Vincent Dumestre, Ophélie Gaillard… These productions, in which live music combines with circus arts and visual theatre, have travelled for 10 years over the world, in the most prestigious theatres: Opéra Comique, Bouffes du Nord and Philharmonie de Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Festival International Cervantino in Mexico, operas and national theatres in Budapest, Madrid, Belgrade, Hong Kong…
In 2008, they founded the Shlemil Theatre, whose unclassifiable original productions have been widely acclaimed by audiences and critics worldwide. Their magical and burlesque shows, “Les Âmes Nocturnes” and “Au Bonheur des Vivants”, were performed over 300 times in Europe and Asia and received an award at the Avignon Festival in 2012.
Their fantastical adaptation of The Beauty and the Beast, in which Mozart and Haydn instrumental pieces meet an otherworldly visuality, also travelled across the world, including prestigious festivals in Spain (Via Stellae), The Netherlands (Utrecht Oude Muziek) and Taiwan.
Today, they keep on creating and touring new shows with their company, which is a unique way to keep close contact with stages and audiences around the world.
Passing on their knowledge and experience is yet another way of keeping their work alive and thriving: Julien Lubek has taught the art of mime at the Paris Conservatoire for 4 years.
In 2010, the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège hosted their first lyrical staging, The Magic Flute, which won the prestigious Gouden Label Award for the best opera production in 2016. It was subsequently performed in Liège (2015), in Sassari (2016), in Lombardy (2017), in Avignon (2019) and in Versailles under Hervé Niquet (2020, 2022).
In 2014, they directed and designed the set and costumes of Dido and Aeneas at the Rouen Opera. This highly acclaimed production – of which a DVD was released – was performed at the Teatro Regio di Torino, Opera Royal du Château de Versailles, Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège and at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv.
The same year, they directed and designed the set, costumes and lighting of La Cenerentola for the Liège Opera. After having travelled to Tel Aviv in 2016, this production returned to Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège in 2019.
In 2017/2018, they directed and designed the set, costumes and lighting of Cimarosa’s Matrimonio segreto, a coproduction of the Paris Philharmonie and Conservatoire. They staged and designed Gretry’s Raoul Barbe Bleue in Trondheim (Norway) and saw their enchanting, colourful show “Le Carnaval Baroque” being revived for the Versailles Royal Opera.
Other past highlights include the mise-en-scène of La Clemenza di Tito at Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège and Les Pêcheurs de perles at Teatro Regio Torino.
More recently, Cécile et Julien went on tour in France with their new shows “Magic Mozart”, coproduced by the Mozartwoche and commissioned by Rolando Villazón, and “Dreams” in Rennes, Nantes and Angers. Add to this the creation of a new theatrical duet entitled “La Valse du Marcassin” they have presented at the Avignon Festival. December 2023 will see the revival of their Zauberflöte staging for the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège.
