The small light bulb is called Clarté. She wants to go to school, dreams of being a star and a dancer driven by a love of music. She sets off on her journey like a shooting star, confronting her parents, school teacher, dance teacher, a psychic, and ends up meeting the moon, the earth, some traffic lights and even an electricity meter.  This coming-of-age story mixes angles and techniques. The object theatre and video recording take place in a miniature 2.50 metre puppet theatre full of light bulbs, lit-up objects and light sources. This live performance features a voice over and live musical partition with songs, melodies, atmospheres, noises, vibrations and more.

Amidst the dulcitone, theremin, synth and guitar, at the heart of this composition is a “celesta”, an instrument somewhere between the glockenspiel and piano (in this case, a prototype by Auguste Victor Mustel, dating back to 1887). David Monceau and David Euverte’s music blends timbres, textures and materials, and was designed like a film soundtrack, reminiscent of work by Danny Elfman for Edward Scissorhands or Richard Hawley’s album Truelove’s Gutter. It features a succession of musical interludes, contemplative ballads and narrative episodes while the light bulbs illuminate this little light theatre.

This sensory and emotional experience falls somewhere between dramaturgy and an abstract journey as Clarté sparkles and shines, guiding us towards her warm light.