French actress and director Magali Montoya is staging the first movement of a triptych dedicated to Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel, titled Mrs Dalloway, c’est nous !, running from September 23 to October 3, 2026, at the Théâtre de l’Échangeur in Bagnolet. Adapted and directed by Montoya, the production focuses on the opening forty pages of the 350-page modernist novel, tracking Clarissa Dalloway’s journey through London on a single day in June 1923.
Production Details and Creative Team at Théâtre de l’Échangeur
The first movement of Mrs Dalloway, c’est nous ! runs for one hour and five minutes, with performances scheduled from Wednesday through Saturday evenings. The production utilizes the French translation by novelist Nathalie Azoulai, published by P.O.L Éditeur. Montoya shares the stage as a solo narrator while collaborating closely with artistic partners Anne Alvaro, Jules Churin, and Sébastien Derrey. The staging features lighting by Jean-Yves Courcoux, costumes by Pauline Pô, and a set designed by Jules Churin, Pauline Pô, and Montoya.
Production support for the first movement comes from Le Solstice d’Hiver, alongside funding from the DRAC Île-de-France under the Ministry of Culture. The Théâtre de l’Échangeur serves as co-producer and residency host, with additional rehearsal and research spaces provided by the T2G – Théâtre de Gennevilliers, the Théâtre des Quartiers d’Ivry, and the Nouveau Gare au Théâtre in Vitry-sur-Seine. Following the September 26 performance, Montoya and translator Nathalie Azoulai will participate in a public discussion with the audience.
Exploring Woolf’s Polyphonic Text on Stage
Montoya’s adaptation centers on the famous incipit of Woolf’s novel: “Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.” In the production, the actor-narrator moves across the performance space, occasionally pausing to play the piano while reflecting on Clarissa Dalloway at age 52, a mature woman traversing London streets and recalling her youth and past choices.
Plans for the subsequent second and third movements are currently under development for the 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 theatrical seasons. Production management for the project is handled by Silvia Mammano, with musical composition for future movements planned by Roberto Basarte.
Related reading