What is this floating theatre, the first of its kind in the world?

I promise, attending a show won’t make you seasick. “Everything has been done so that it’s stable and you don’t feel it moving, even with a lot of wind or waves from a passing boat” , assures Jean-Philippe Amy, co-leader of the L’Ile Ô project. From Saturday, this floating theater which houses two performance halls and which is moored on the Rhône at the level of the Gallieni bridge in Lyon, will welcome the public. And this is a first in Europe, “and even in the world”, according to its creators.

Ile Ô, moored on the Rhône in Lyon, is the first floating theater in the world according to its designers – E. Martin / 20 Minutes

If the 39 m long structure does not pitch, it is also because it is in no way a boat. “It’s a building that was built on water and weighs a total of 750 tons of concrete,” says the co-founder of the establishment. The one who is also director and founder of the Patadome d’Irigny, a theater and artistic practice aimed at young audiences, wanted to develop this offer for the little ones. He then seized this opportunity for a location offered by the Voies navigables de France, the manager of the public fluvial domain of the banks.

“It was the availability of land, or rather, its unavailability in town, that prompted us to imagine a floating building,” continues the other project leader, David Lahille. Finally, it is the perfect tool to bring the education of the child back to the center of the city. His partner adds: “It’s perfect to be on the water, it’s the journey, the life. Like the theatre! And we are convinced that this original establishment will attract and become a means of attraction for people to discover the theatre. We are not in a small alley where no one goes. According to him, this project will inspire others. “For children, as for adults, when you have seen this building once, you remember it,” he says.

A building that blends into its environment

Once on board, the interior is made of CLT wood, which reduces bulk and everything has been designed “to maintain contact with the water” with large windows or “marine” decorations. In the large 244-seat performance hall, the bamboo projections that follow the movement of a wave are actually “perfect” for the acoustics. And the first rows are under two meters below the level of the Rhone. “For the requirements of the theater, it was necessary to dig and allow to have a scene with the standards, details the co-carrier of the project. We also developed another world first by using water from the river for the mechanics needed for the set. »

The ten poles of the rooms are equipped with tanks, to be filled according to the number of kilos necessary to maneuver the sets and the lights. “The entire building was designed to be as energy efficient as possible,” continues David Lahille. In summer, for example, the white steel hull will repel the sun’s rays. The double walls throughout the establishment also serve as a conduit to create air currents and allow natural ventilation. And we set up a wooden system with grids to allow us to ventilate. »

The large 244-seat hall in the floating theater, installed on the Rhône in Lyon
The large hall with 244 seats in the floating theater, installed on the Rhône in Lyon – E. Martin / 20 Minutes

Seen from the outside, the building is quite atypical. The creators explain that the architect took the lines of the existing buildings across the street to integrate the structure into its environment. “We signed for eighteen years but we don’t know what the future holds,” explains one of the founders. L’Ile Ô can just as easily be transformed into a hotel, a restaurant or disappear in a few years. We made sure that it was modular with the materials that we used so as not to upset the environment in which we fit in for at least a century with this concrete shell. »

“A chance” for creation

And on the creative side too, being on the water is “incredibly lucky”. Gabrielle D’Imperio Infuso, co-artistic director of the Pantadôme and L’Ile Ô, now exclaims: “It’s great for children. It is an exceptional playground where they will be immersed in a universe that allows the imagination. When you enter L’Ile Ô, you enter a bubble. »

Before adding: “And for professionals too. In a few days on site, we saw that we could use the elements that surround us, such as the reflections of light on the water that project on the ceilings. For the artists and the shows, it’s magic, especially since you immerse yourself completely in the theme. »

The programming will be linked to the Patadôme, with the same prices. In addition to receiving the public for workshops and performances, L’Ile Ô also offers companies training and seminars related to theater practices. “It will be weekdays because Wednesdays and weekends are for the general public”, assures the managers who explain that they cannot do without a lucrative activity in addition to the cultural association to have a viable economic model. .

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