2010

SPECTACLE – THEATRE


MOI,

ANNA POLITKOVSKAÏA


Katy Grandi, Jean-Jacques Greneau

France


A tribute monologue to the Russian journalist, assassinated in 2006.


Thursday 3 June 2010, 9:00 pm

Théâtre de Beyrouth, Ain el Mraïsseh

Like the author whose work and original writing consisted of reviving Anna Politkovskaïa in her most intimate moments, I modestly got close to this character, but without attempting to resemble her. 

At first, I remained at her side, just listening. 

I patiently waited for her to allow me to start talking, to live. 

Undeniably, our common point is that we are both women. 

Perhaps time and work would allow me to discover other common points. 

I repeated to myself that I should learn how to control my fear, but never my courage, … 

I was seduced by her self-deprecation during the most difficult confrontations, 

I looked  at the chaos of the war without any fear, 

I addressed myself bluntly to the other nations to the extent of impertinence, 

I laughed at the offices of“Novaïa Gazeta”, 

I was surprised at the pride I felt when I listened to the Russian national anthem and at how easy it was for me to say: I do not like Putin. 

Anna unfailingly accompanied me in this work.  

I do not know if it was difficult. 

I liked her, quite simply.


Katy Grandi

Actress

  • Works under the direction of Roger Planchon, Jacques Rosner, Bruno Carlucci, George Lavaudant, André Steiger, Carlo Bozo, Philippe Mentha, Francoise Maimone (Macbeth), Catherine Marnas (Uncle Vania), Jacques Weber (The marriage of Figaro), Jerome Savary (The Taming of the Shrew), Silviu Purcarete (Oresteia),…  
  • Has acted since 1990 in the plays of Jean-Jacques Greneau, an associate author  in LeMinotaure Company.  

Director

  • Directs shows by LeMinotaure Company. 
  • School lecturer and drama trainer.

A Russian journalist and international reporter for “Novaïa Gazeta”, Anna Politkovskaïa began her career at the “Izvestia” newspaper and started several years ago to conduct investigations on the army’s actions in Chechnya. 

She was fiercely critical of Kadyrov’s regime and the power under president  Vladimir Putin.  

Despite of the threats directed against her and her children, she continued to denounce the daily crimes and atrocities. 

She was assassinated on October 7, 2006, and joined the long list of reporters killed in the performance of duty.

Although a memorial has been dedicated to them, paying them homage is not enough. Once again, we are indebted to those who risk their lives to shed some light on events in a manner that is different from that of  politicians and soldiers.  

It is hence one of these journalists who inspired me this text, that same woman whose body was found in the staircase of her building in Moscow, on Lesnaïa street. A Makarov 9mm  gun and four cartridge-cases were also found next to her.   

What else can we do, if not extend her voice in our consciousness and our theaters, doing what she always dared to do in her life: go beyond our duty.


Jean-Jacques Greneau

Studied French literature in Bordeaux.


Started drama writing in 1990.

  • « Marie de Magdala » - « Marie-Antoinette, la reine Media » (1990)
  • « Catherine de Russie, Etoile du nord » (1991).
  • « La Noce Villageoise » Brueghel (1993).
  •  « Alger, ma blanche » - « Plaza de Mayo, un jeudi après-midi » - « Afghanes, Afghanistan » (1997/2000), (Editions du Cerisier).
  • « Le jeune homme assis sur un tabouret », 2000.
  •  « Agnus Deï » - « Les chardons rouges » (2002/2005) (Editions du Cerisier).
  • « Matériau Mozart » - «Soldat Blent, crocodiles’s
  • memory » - « Moi, Anna Politkovskaïa » (2006/2008)

Winner of the Authors Days Prize in Lyon in 1999 with “Ce salaud de D. ” (Comp’act Editions).  


Awarded a scholarship by the CNL and took part in writing workshops in Chartreuse of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon in 2001 and 2003.

Performance in French with subtitles in Arabic.

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