Anne
Kessler

488e sociétaire

Anne Kessler trained with Antoine Vitez at the École du Théâtre national de Chaillot. Often cast in classical repertory at the Comédie-Française, she is equally comfortable in comical, tragic and romantic roles. She has performed in major plays by contemporary authors staged for the Company.

It has to be said that Anne Kessler truly embraces her roles; the characters she passionately plays have become synonymous with her interpretation. She has been Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Lee Breuer, Angustias in Federico García Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba by Lilo Baur, Axioucha in Ostrovsky’s The Forest by Piotr Fomenko, Calérie in Gorki’s Summerfolk by Gérard Desarthe, Marthe in Maurice Maeterlinck’s Intérieur by Nâzim Boudjenah, Mère Ubu in Alfred Jarry’s Ubu roi by Jean-Pierre Vincent in 2009. Jean-Pierre Vincent had previously cast her in the role of Florestine in La Mère coupable by Beaumarchais in 1990. For Arnaud Desplechin, she has been Laura, the captain’s wife in August Strindberg’s The Father. In 2018, she has created the role of C in Poussière written and directed by Lars Norén.

Among the renowned directors who wished to work with her have been: Georges Lavaudant for Lorenzaccio by Musset, Jacques Lassalle for two plays by Goldoni, La Serva amorosa and Il Campiello, as well as for Platonov or Fatherlessness by Chekhov. Her collaboration with Alain Françon on Ibsen’s The Wild Duck would prove to be crucial to her career. They reunited again on the Villegiatura Trilogy by Goldoni and onthe Cherry Orchard by Chekhov. At the request of Guillaume Gallienne, she has been playing in On the Road, also by Chekhov.

Her encounters with certain authors have similarly been of fundamental importance in her career. From the work by Molière, she played Mademoiselle Molière in L’Impromptu de Versailles by Jean-Luc Boutté, Frosine in The Miser (L’Avare) and Angélique in George Dandin by Catherine Hiegel, Mariannein Tartuffe by Dominique Pitoiset, Julie in Monsieur de Pourceaugnac by Philippe Adrien. From the work written by Beaumarchais, she played Suzanne in The Marriage of Figaro (Le Mariage de Figaro) by Christophe Rauck, Rosine in The Barber of Seville (Le Barbier de Séville) by Jean-Luc Boutté. And from Feydeau’s opus, she held up the roles of Clothilde Pontagnac in Le Dindon by Lukas Hemleb and Angélique in The Free Exchange Hotel (L’Hôtel du Libre-Échange) by Isabelle Nanty.

To her acting talents, Anne Kessler has added those of director by turning to texts she has found to be moving or shocking. She has directed the actors of the Company in Grief(s), based on texts written by Strindberg, Ibsen and Bergman and adapted by Guy Zilberstein; Trois hommes dans un salon based on an interview with Ferré, Brassens and Brel by François-René Cristiani; La Double Inconstance by Marivaux and La Ronde after Schnitzler. She staged Les Naufragés by Guy Zilberstein in 2015, and played and directed Coupes Sombres by the same author. This show was taken over to play at the Théâtre du Rond-Point. In 2018, she staged a new adaptation of Strindberg’s The Creditors at the Studio-Théâtre. Equally, she is directing the reading of Shakespeare’s Richard III at the Maison de la Radio for the 450th anniversary of the British writer’s birth. In 2012, she directed the student actors of the Comédie-Française’s academy in Thomas Voltelli, a text by Guy Zilberstein at the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier.

At the Comédie-Française, Anne Kessler has conceived the mural of Courteline’s Un client sérieux by Nicolas Lormeau and the canvases of Molière Psyché paintedat the request of Véronique Vella. She has also directed a video of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac by Denis Podalydès.

Outside of the Comédie-Française, she has directed Daniel Keyes’ Des fleurs pour Algernon in 2012, which won the Prix du meilleur spectacle privé at the 2013 Palmarès du Théâtre and the 2014 Molière Award for Best One Man Show for Grégory Gadebois.

During the 2018/2019 season, she will been playing in Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny et Alexandre directed by Julie Deliquet and in the rerun of Feydeau’s Free Exchange Hotel directed by Isabelle Nanty. She will also have her Paradoxe(s) Être ensemble et soi-même, dans un même temps, un même lieu, une même entité. Her Grenier des acteurs will be dedicated to Marquis de Sade.

Currently in

ON TOUR / Singulis — Ex-traits de femmes

devised and performed by Anne Kessler

On tour

Soon in

Mais quelle Comédie !

Created and directed by Serge Bagdassarian and Marina Hands

Richelieu

Tickets

At the Comédie-Française

2023-2024

2022-2023

  • Mémoire de fille

    after Annie Ernaux adapted by and directed by Silvia Costa

    Vx-Colombier

  • Fragments Norén

    artistic director Amélie Wendling

    Vx-Colombier

  • La Fausse suivante ou le Fourbe puni

    Marivaux artistic director Claire de La Rüe du Can

    la Comtesse

  • Le Côté de Guermantes

    by Marcel Proust Adapted and directed by Christophe Honoré

    la Comtesse de Marsantes

    Richelieu

  • Gabriel

    After George Sand Adapted by Laurent Delvert et Aurélien Hamard-Padis Directed by...

    Settimia, mère d'Astolphe

    Vx-Colombier

2021-2022

2020-2021

  • Mais quelle Comédie !

    Musical devised and directed by Serge Bagdassarian and Marina Hands

    Richelieu

  • Le Côté de Guermantes

    d'après Marcel Proust Adaptation et mise en scène Christophe Honoré

    la Comtesse de Marsantes

    Théâtre Marigny

2018-2019

2017-2018

  • Poussière

    by Lars Norén Directed by Lars Norén

    C

    Richelieu

  • L'Hôtel du Libre-Échange

    The Free Exchange Hotel by Georges Feydeau Directed by Isabelle Nanty

    Angélique, femme de Pinglet

    Richelieu

2016-2017

  • L'Hôtel du Libre-Échange

    The Free Exchange Hotel by Georges Feydeau Directed by Isabelle Nanty

    Angélique, femme de Pinglet

    Richelieu

  • Les Journées particulières (Special...

    Into the Repertoire time machine

    Vx-Colombier

  • Intérieur

    Interior by Maurice Maeterlinck Directed by Nâzim Boudjenah

    Marthe

    Studio

  • Père

    The Father by August Strindberg Directed by Arnaud Desplechin

    Laura, la femme du capitaine

    Richelieu

2015-2016

2014-2015

  • La Maison de Bernarda Alba

    by Federico García Lorca Directed by Lilo Baur

    Angustias

    Richelieu

  • Coupes sombres

    Dark Cuts by Guy Zilberstein Directed by Anne Kessler

    The Director

    TOP

  • Les Estivants

    The Summer Folk by Maxime Gorki Directed by Gérard Desarthe

    Calérie – sœur de Bassov

    Richelieu

2013-2014

2012-2013

2011-2012

2010-2011

  • The Readers’ Bureau

    Readings of contemporary authors

    Vx-Colombier

  • Ubu roi

    by Alfred Jarry Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent

    Mère Ubu

    Richelieu

  • Un tramway nommé désir

    A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Directed by Lee Breuer

    Blanche DuBois

    Richelieu

2009-2010

  • Le Mariage de Figaro ou la Folle Journée

    The Marriage of Figaro or The Mad Day by Beaumarchais Directed by Christophe Rauck

    Suzanne

    Richelieu

  • Cyrano de Bergerac

    by Edmond Rostand Directed by Denis Podalydès

    Le Tire-laine, la duègne, cadet, une soeur (en alternance)

    Richelieu

  • Ubu roi

    by Alfred Jarry Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent

    Mère Ubu

    Richelieu

  • Quatre pièces de Feydeau

    by Georges Feydeau Directed by Gian Manuel Rau

    Henriette (Fiancés en herbe), Yvonne (Feu la mère de Madame)

    Vx-Colombier

2008-2009

  • Il Campiello

    by Carlo Goldoni Directed by Jacques Lassalle

    Gasparina, jeune fille à la prononciation affectée

    Richelieu

  • Ubu roi

    by Alfred Jarry Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent

    Mère Ubu

    Richelieu

  • La Dispute

    A Matter of Dispute by Marivaux Directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz

    Eglé.

    Vx-Colombier

  • Cyrano de Bergerac

    by Edmond Rostand Directed by Denis Podalydès

    Le tire-laine, la duègne, cadet, une soeur (en alternance)

    Richelieu

  • Le Mariage de Figaro ou la Folle Journée

    The Marriage of Figaro or The Mad Day by Beaumarchais Directed by Christophe Rauck

    Suzanne

    Richelieu

2007-2008

2006-2007

  • Sur la grand-route

    by Anton Tchekhov Directed by Guillaume Gallienne

    Maria Iégorovna Bortsova

    Studio

  • Il Campiello

    by Carlo Goldoni Directed by Jacques Lassalle

    Gasparina, jeune fille à la prononciation affectée

    Richelieu

2005-2006

  • Les Bacchantes

    The Bacchantes by Euripide Directed by André Wilms

    le Choeur

    Richelieu

2004-2005

2003-2004

  • Le Conte d'hiver

    The Winter Tale by William Shakespeare Directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz

    Paulina

    Studio

  • Le Dindon

    by Georges Feydeau Directed by Lukas Hemleb

    Clotilde Pontagnac

    Richelieu

  • La Forêt

    by Alexandre Ostrovski Directed by Piotr Fomenko

    Axioucha

    Richelieu

2002-2003

  • La Forêt

    by Alexandre Ostrovski Directed by Piotr Fomenko

    Axioucha

    Richelieu

  • Le Dindon

    by Georges Feydeau Directed by Lukas Hemleb

    Clotilde Pontagnac

    Richelieu

2001-2002

2000-2001

1999-2000

  • George Dandin

    by Molière Directed by Catherine Hiegel

    Angélique

    Richelieu

  • Un garçon impossible

    by Petter S. Rosenlund Directed by Frédéric Bélier-Garcia

    Sylvia

    Studio

  • L'Incorruptible

    by Hugo von Hofmannsthal Directed by Philippe Adrien

    Anna

    Vx-Colombier

  • La Cerisaie

    by Anton Tchekhov Directed by Alain Françon

    Ania

    Richelieu

1998-1999

  • George Dandin

    by Molière Directed by Catherine Hiegel

    Angélique

    Richelieu

  • La Cerisaie

    by Anton Tchekhov Directed by Alain Françon

    Ania

    Richelieu

1997-1998

  • La Cerisaie

    by Anton Tchekhov Directed by Alain Françon

    Ania

    Richelieu

1996-1997

  • Tartuffe

    by Molière Directed by Dominique Pitoiset

    Mariane

    Richelieu

  • Clitandre

    by Pierre Corneille Directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz

    Dorise

    Richelieu

  • Moi

    by Eugène Labiche Directed by Jean-Louis Benoit

    Thérèse

    Richelieu

1995-1996

  • Moi

    by Eugène Labiche Directed by Jean-Louis Benoit

    Thérèse

    Richelieu

  • Naïves hirondelles

    by Roland Dubillard Directed by Pierre Vial

    Germaine

    Vx-Colombier

  • La Thébaïde

    by Jean Racine Directed by Yannis Kokkos

    Antigone

    Richelieu

1993-1994

  • La Serva amorosa

    by Carlo Goldoni Directed by Jacques Lassalle

    Rosaura

    Richelieu

  • Le Canard sauvage

    by Henrik Ibsen Directed by Alain Françon

    Hedvig

    Richelieu

  • L'Impromptu de Versailles

    The Versailles Impromptu by Molière Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté

    Miss Molière (alternating)

    Richelieu

  • Le Prix Martin

    by Eugène Labiche Directed by Jiri Menzel

    Bathilde Bartavelle

    Richelieu

1992-1993

  • Le Prix Martin

    by Eugène Labiche Directed by Jiri Menzel

    Bathilde Bartavelle

    Richelieu

  • L'Impromptu de Versailles

    The Versailles Impromptu by Molière Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté

    Miss Molière (alternating)

    Richelieu

  • Le Roi s'amuse

    by Victor Hugo Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté

    Mme de Cossé

    Richelieu

  • La Serva amorosa

    by Carlo Goldoni Directed by Jacques Lassalle

    Rosaura

    Richelieu

1991-1992

1990-1991

  • La Mère coupable

    by Beaumarchais Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent

    Florestine

    Richelieu

  • Le Barbier de Séville

    by Beaumarchais Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté

    Rosine

    Richelieu

  • Lorenzaccio

    by Alfred de Musset Directed by Georges Lavaudant

    Louise Strozzi

    Richelieu

1989-1990

  • La Mère coupable

    by Beaumarchais Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent

    Florestine

    Richelieu

  • Lorenzaccio

    by Alfred de Musset Directed by Georges Lavaudant

    Louise Strozzi

    Richelieu

  • Amour pour amour

    by William Congreve Directed by André Steiger

    Prudence

    Richelieu

1988-1989

  • Amour pour amour

    by William Congreve Directed by André Steiger

    Prudence

    Richelieu

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VIGIPIRATE

En raison du renforcement des mesures de sécurité dans le cadre du plan Vigipirate « Sécurité renforcée - risque attentat », nous vous demandons de vous présenter 30 minutes avant le début de la représentation afin de faciliter le contrôle.

Nous vous rappelons également qu’un seul sac (de type sac à main, petit sac à dos) par personne est admis dans l’enceinte des trois théâtres de la Comédie-Française. Tout spectateur se présentant muni d’autres sacs (sac de courses, bagage) ou objets encombrants, se verra interdire l’entrée des bâtiments.

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