Seuls en Scène 2025 presents Insuline & Magnolia by Stanislas Roquette
September 19 • 8:00 pm
Free
“A moving true story. Devastating humor. A splendid actor.“
— Critic’s choice TÉLÉRAMA“Intimate and engaging, to be shared without moderation. “
— L’HUMANITÉ
When Stanislas discovers at the age of 15 that he has insulin-dependent diabetes, his carefree childhood is shattered by the evidence of the disease. Formerly a cheerful boy, now he isolates himself. But his life is soon turned upside down when he meets Fleur. With her free-spirited, sunny personality, this young woman introduces him to the power of poetry and travel. The show is the story of this encounter, of the friendship that followed, and of the vital rebound it caused.
Stanislas Roquette’s autobiographical tale is full of impetus, humor and tenderness, as he recounts the shock of a medical diagnosis and the enlightenment that life can sometimes offer in return. Insuline & Magnolia is also the story of an adolescent initiation by way of literature—in this case, French theater and poetry.
Although this year’s lineup doesn’t feature a ‘Seuls en Scène repertory play’ unlike 2023 and 2024 with Portrait de Ludmilla en Nina Simone and Clôture de l’amour, Stanislas Roquette is the returning artist of this year’s festival. He performed two solo shows at the first edition of the festival in 2012 and was associate artist of its second edition in 2013. We are delighted to bring him back to this year’s Seuls en Scène.
The text of the show is published by Actes Sud-Papiers, in the collection “Au singulier.”
Tickets
Free and open to the public; advance tickets required. Tickets available in late August.
Reserve free tickets through University Ticketing
Performance Details
Show performed in French with English supertitles. Duration: 1 hour, 20 min.
See all shows in 2025 French Theater Festival
Content Advisory
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Directions
Get directions to the Wallace Theater, located on the Forum level of the Lewis Arts complex, and find other venue information for the arts complex.
Accessibility
The Wallace Theater is an accessible venue. The show will be performed in French with English supertitles.
Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information about our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.
Additional Media
Photo Gallery
Photo credit: P. Gely
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Photo credit: P. Gely
Photo credit: P. Gely
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Photo credit: P. Gely
Photo credit: P. Gely
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Photo credit: P. Gely
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Photo credit: P. Gely
Photo credit: Ludo
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Photo credit: Ludo
About the Artist
Photo credit: Nil Bosca
Stanislas Roquette holds a master’s degree in political science. He is an actor, director and author, and he teaches practical theater and public speaking in several contexts, notably at Sciences-Po Paris since 2009, at the Sorbonne and at Paris-Dauphine, with Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL).
As a director, he has a number of productions to his credit, including Euphrate (in collaboration with Nil Bosca and Olivier Constant), La machine de l’homme based on texts by Jean Vilar and Molière’s Dom Juan, and Fernando Pessoa’s Ode maritime, Mariette Navarro’s Les feux de poitrine, Denis Guénoun’s Soulever la politique (created at the Comédie de Genève), and Jean-Luc Lagarce’s Les Règles du savoir-vivre dans la société moderne (created in Russia and in Russian, with Russian actors, and performed alternately since 2017).
Nominated for the Prix du Syndicat de la Critique 2012 for best new actor, he has performed under the direction of Aymeline Alix, Roland Auzet, Marcel Bozonnet, Jérôme Deschamps, Gabriel Garran, Gérald Garutti, Denis Guénoun, Jacques Lassalle, Pauline Masson, Léonard Matton, Céline Schaeffer and Christian Schiaretti.
As a reader, he is invited to France Culture (by Marie Richeux) and France Inter (by Guillaume Gallienne), or by institutions such as the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (at the Panthéon) or the Printemps des poètes.
As a teacher and trainer, he teaches at various local conservatories and at the École Départementale de Théâtre 91, as well as on courses reserved for professionals, for example with Chantiers Nomades.
Artistic director of the Artépo company, he has been a companion artist at the Maison de la Culture d’Amiens since 2018 and an associate artist at the Maison des Arts du Léman (Thonon-les-Bains/Evian).
The shows he directs or performs have been presented on major French stages (Théâtre National de Chaillot, TNP, Festival d’Avignon, CDN and Scènes Nationales), but he also works extensively abroad, notably with the Instituts Français network (China, Russia, USA, Algeria, Iran, Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Canada).
His first text, Insulin & Magnolia, was published in March 2023 by Actes Sud-Papiers.
Production Credits
Performed and written by: Stanislas Roquette
Dramaturgy: Alexis Leprince
Artistic collaborations: Denis Guénoun. Cédric Orain, Florent Turello & Nil Bosca
With the guidance of Guillaume Gallienne de la Comédie Française
Original music: Christian Girardot, Pierre Simon Chevry, Anna Simeney, Dominique Miton, Georges Denoix, Christian Girardot, Flavien Van Landuyt – Studio le Zèbre.
Lighting, stage management: Yvan Lombard
Costumes: Gwladys Duthil
Production
Production: Compagnie Artépo
Coproduction: Maison de la Culture d’Amiens, Maison des Arts du Léman
With the support of: Compagnie Jérôme Deschamps, État d’Esprit Productions, Ville de Besançon, Conseil départemental du Doubs
Thanks: Théâtre de la Cité Internationale, Maison des Arts de Créteil, Plateaux Sauvages, Centre des Monuments Nationaux, Les Scènes Sauvages, Lycée Jacques Decour Paris, Le foyer de l’âme, Gilles Jauffret, MJ et JF Peyrol