Die große Wörterfabrik

Paul and Marie live in a strange land. People rarely speak. A massive building towers over the rooftops. Smoke is constantly rising up from its chimney: this is the Word Factory.  It’s not like any factory we know. No goods are produced here, only words! Because the population of the country must first buy words and then swallow them before they can speak them.  So in Paul and Marie’s home communication is not taken for granted; in fact it is a privilege for the wealthy. Like many others Paul has to search for words in the dustbin or catch them in the air with a butterfly net. Each word appropriated in this way has a very particular value.  So above all, when you really want to say something…perhaps because you’re in love…? Paul especially wanted to express his feelings for Marie on her birthday. But as luck (or bad luck…) would have it, Oskar, a rich kid who has access to all the words in the world, also turns up. While Oskar was expressing his feelings for her in two long sentences, Paul had to act fast. He mustered up all his courage and spoke the only three (unfortunately unrelated…) words that he had available…

Agnes de Lestrades’ picture book which came out in 2009 under the title »La grande fabrique des mots» («The Big Word Factory«) makes a case for the power of words and speech, the value of general and accessible education, as well as the meaning of true feelings. Agnes de Lestrade is a versatile story teller: of children’s songs, of creations of community interest, right through to journalistic texts for a French newspaper. Since 2003, she has been publishing more and more books for children. For »The Big Word Factory» she received, amongst other awards, the Papillotes Prize as well as the »Prix littéraire de la Citoyenneté«.

As a Chamber Opera her Picture Book becomes not just a genuine living experience, but actually seduces the audience through enchantment and dreams, literally living the force of the music.

(Translated from the German by Mike Mackenzie-Smith)

Duration: approx. 50 mins / no intermission