When France's Grenfell moment arrived in November 2018, it was like a shattering wave that crashed against the very foundations of the city. Two decaying houses on Rue d'Aubagne in Noailles imploded, claiming eight lives and leaving over four thousand more people homeless. The tragedy laid bare Marseille's dark underbelly – one of urban decay, social inequality, and crumbling infrastructure.
For playwright Mathilde Aurier, this event was a turning point. Born and raised in Marseille, she knew the city's streets intimately, having grown up just a few doors down from the fallen buildings where her grandfather still lives today. But it was a chance encounter on a Marseille beach with a survivor that sparked her interest in writing about Grenfell.
Aurier drew inspiration from British playwright Howard Barker's "theatre of catastrophe," which probes power dynamics and patriarchy through historical settings. She saw parallels between Barker's work and the struggles facing Marseille – particularly the role of women in reclaiming their lives and voices amidst disaster.
As she delved deeper into her research, Aurier was struck by the sheer scale of trauma faced by those affected by Grenfell. "When she told me her story," the woman on whom Nina is based said, "what struck me was the sense of psychological trauma." For Aurier, this was a defining thread in her narrative – how survivors were seeking healing and resilience.
In 65 Rue d'Aubagne, Aurier masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives, times, and voices. Divided into five sections named for different stages of the wave's collapse, the play traverses the chaotic aftermath, evacuations, struggles with bureaucracy, and the shattered Mediterranean existence that was once a beacon of hope.
At its core, 65 Rue d'Aubagne is an unflinching examination of powerlessness and resistance. It asks us to confront our own vulnerability in the face of catastrophe – how we come together, how we struggle, and what meaning we can find amidst chaos.
For Aurier, this was not just a play but a deeply personal exploration of being a woman in the midst of disaster. As she candidly admitted, "Being a woman" is at the heart of her work – an attempt to give voice to those often silenced by society's expectations.
Aurier's vision for 65 Rue d'Aubagne extends beyond its theatrical debut. A TV series adaptation is in development, capturing the full scope of the story and its aftermath – including the court trial that has yet to deliver justice to the victims' families.
The struggle to address Marseille's housing crisis remains pressing, with many residents facing eviction or displacement due to gentrification. As Aurier noted, "Housing is such a fundamental thing now" – but her work highlights how this issue often takes a backseat in favor of more glamorous concerns.
For Mathilde Aurier, the Grenfell moment will forever be etched in her psyche as a writer, an author who has never lost sight of tragedy's enduring power. As she puts it, "I've always been a tragic author – and I think I'll be one until the end."
For playwright Mathilde Aurier, this event was a turning point. Born and raised in Marseille, she knew the city's streets intimately, having grown up just a few doors down from the fallen buildings where her grandfather still lives today. But it was a chance encounter on a Marseille beach with a survivor that sparked her interest in writing about Grenfell.
Aurier drew inspiration from British playwright Howard Barker's "theatre of catastrophe," which probes power dynamics and patriarchy through historical settings. She saw parallels between Barker's work and the struggles facing Marseille – particularly the role of women in reclaiming their lives and voices amidst disaster.
As she delved deeper into her research, Aurier was struck by the sheer scale of trauma faced by those affected by Grenfell. "When she told me her story," the woman on whom Nina is based said, "what struck me was the sense of psychological trauma." For Aurier, this was a defining thread in her narrative – how survivors were seeking healing and resilience.
In 65 Rue d'Aubagne, Aurier masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives, times, and voices. Divided into five sections named for different stages of the wave's collapse, the play traverses the chaotic aftermath, evacuations, struggles with bureaucracy, and the shattered Mediterranean existence that was once a beacon of hope.
At its core, 65 Rue d'Aubagne is an unflinching examination of powerlessness and resistance. It asks us to confront our own vulnerability in the face of catastrophe – how we come together, how we struggle, and what meaning we can find amidst chaos.
For Aurier, this was not just a play but a deeply personal exploration of being a woman in the midst of disaster. As she candidly admitted, "Being a woman" is at the heart of her work – an attempt to give voice to those often silenced by society's expectations.
Aurier's vision for 65 Rue d'Aubagne extends beyond its theatrical debut. A TV series adaptation is in development, capturing the full scope of the story and its aftermath – including the court trial that has yet to deliver justice to the victims' families.
The struggle to address Marseille's housing crisis remains pressing, with many residents facing eviction or displacement due to gentrification. As Aurier noted, "Housing is such a fundamental thing now" – but her work highlights how this issue often takes a backseat in favor of more glamorous concerns.
For Mathilde Aurier, the Grenfell moment will forever be etched in her psyche as a writer, an author who has never lost sight of tragedy's enduring power. As she puts it, "I've always been a tragic author – and I think I'll be one until the end."
Just read about this new play '65 Rue d'Aubagne' inspired by Grenfell tragedy in Marseille and it's giving me bad vibes 
. The playwright is trying to tackle the powerlessness of survivors but also how women are silenced by society. It's like, we already know that's a problem, what's new? 
The fact that a TV series adaptation is in development just means more people will be affected by this tragic story. And let's not forget about the real-life struggle to address Marseille's housing crisis... 
the thing that gets me about this play is how it shows that even in the darkest moments, there's still room for resilience and resistance. like, imagine living through a disaster like Grenfell and then having to navigate a system that's supposed to be helping you but is actually just making things worse... it's so messed up 
anyway, i'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for 65 Rue d'Aubagne and seeing how it gets received by audiences 
she's doing this amazing work to give voice to the often-silent survivors of disaster, and it's truly heartbreaking yet powerful at the same time 
can't wait to see the tv series adaptation and hear more about her vision for justice for the victims' families 
. Aurier is a talented playwright who's not afraid to tackle tough topics and I love how she weaves together different perspectives and voices in her play 
.
I'm still reeling from that Grenfell moment 
in 2018. It was like Marseille was hit with a ton of bricks 
. I love that Mathilde Aurier is trying to give voice to those who are often silenced, like women who've been through trauma 
. The housing crisis in Marseille is still a huge issue, and it's crazy that gentrification is pushing people out of their homes 
they're already dealing with all these social issues and urban decay, and then this Grenfell moment hits them hard. it's like, what even is happening in some cities, right? 
also, can we talk about how important housing is right now? 
her take on trauma, powerlessness & resistance is SO needed right now 
. mathilde aurier's play 65 rue d'aubagne is literally the real deal tho, it's so raw & honest about trauma & powerlessness & resistance 
. anyhoo, as an author herself, mathilde is all about giving voice to those who've been silenced, and that's something we should all be trying to do more of 
. I mean, you can already tell that she's not afraid to tackle some heavy stuff – powerlessness, trauma, resistance... it's like a big ol' emotional punch in the gut 
. Mathilde Aurier is like, totally a hero for tackling this stuff head-on 
i mean, trauma and powerlessness and all that stuff. it's like they're trying to say something important or whatever. the thing with the woman on the beach sounds pretty intense too 
. 
she's giving voice to those often silenced by society's expectations 
and i love how she's tackling this complex topic head-on 
i feel like i need to watch this play ASAP... but what's with all the talk about Grenfell? wasn't that like, 7 years ago? 
anyway, i love how the writer is drawing parallels between marseille and britain - it's crazy how cities can be so connected yet still have their own unique struggles 