Théâtre National de Bretagne
Direction Arthur Nauzyciel

KADDISH
FR EN

KADDISH

ALLEN GINSBERG / ARTHUR NAUZYCIEL

Duration 1h20

Répertoire

Duration 1h20

« Kaddish is a lengthy poem by Allen Ginsberg written under the influence of amphetamines in 1959 after he thought he saw his mother Naomi (a Russian Jew and communist activist) one morning in the streets of Manhattan three years after she died insane. The inspiration for the poem comes from the Jewish prayer of mourning recited at funerals.

In it Ginsberg relives his relationship with his mother, her frequent hospitalizations, her distress; he further explores his feelings about New York and America of the times and about his own family. It is a cruel, painful, ironic love song. Ginsberg’s fierce telling of Naomi’s downward spiral into the abyss teems with pure mystical expression. Kaddish is undoubtedly one of the finest poems by the sulphurous author of Howl, one of the founding members of the Beat Generation.

In addition to Kaddish, we will read excerpts from the diary kept by Ginsberg between 1952 and 1962. We will also listen to musical compositions, including one by his friend Arthur Russell. And we will discover the recipe for calves’ foot jelly. »

— Arthur Nauzyciel

Duration 1h20

CREDITS

Text
ALLEN GINSBERG (Kaddish and excerpts of Journal 1952-1962)
Direction and reading
ARTHUR NAUZYCIEL

With the friendship support of :
Voice of Allen Ginsberg’s journal and sing
ÉTIENNE DAHO
Video
VALÉRIE MRÉJEN

Sound
XAVIER JACQUOT
FLORENT DALMAS
Light and stage manager
JEAN-MARC HENNAUT
Cook
RÉGINE NAUCZYCIEL

 

Song : This is how we walk on the moon, Arthur Russell

Étienne Daho appears with Universal Music Polydor France’s courtesy.
Kaddish of Allen Ginsberg is published by the Editions de La Table Ronde, adaptation by Claude Pélieu, traduction by Mary Beach.
Allen Ginsberg, Journal 1952-1962 is published by éditions Christian Bourgois, collection « Titres », traduction Yves Le Pellec.

 

Production : Théâtre National de Bretagne.
Coproduction : Centre Dramatique national Orléans/Loiret/Centre, Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme.