UVA Department of Drama is thrilled to be welcoming Guests Artists in Residence, Ècritures Théâtrais Contemporaines en Caraïbe (ETC Caraïbe) in Spring 2025. This residency will include a staged reading of Rosanie Soleil, by Ina Césaire, a French playwright and ethnographer whose writings explore the oral heritage of her home of Martinique. 

This staged reading will take place Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7pm in the Helms Theatre.

Rosanie Soleil is a psychodrama which brings together a quartet of women, in a domestic and rural environment in the south of Martinique in the 1870s.

Busy with their household chores, they communicate in coded language, in order to continue a cross-dialogue above the understanding of one of them, or in order to make fun of the neighbor who plays the crazy woman, to poke the mother or to make her talk about the secret she jealously guards: the identity of the father.

It is about revolts, fires, insurgents, a mysterious man who we never see symbolized by a set of percussions, but it is above all a question of the place and involvement of women in these insurrectional events… Secrets and the unspoken are at the heart of their verbal games. Mystery...

These women, although different, are closely linked to each other and involved to varying degrees in the action taking place outside.

To be performed in French and Antillean Creole, with English subtitles.
Please note that 'Rosanie Soleil' includes references to violence and violent acts, including sexual assault.

This performance is open to the public. Tickets are free and will be available soon through the Arts Box Office. Please check back for updates when tickets go on sale.

Produced with support from the UVA Arts Council, Directors of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with research support from AHSS.

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