STUDIOJGLECAT
Conception scénographique décors et conseil
artistique
Officier
des Arts et des Lettres
Jean-Guy Lecat’s Biography
In 1965, after having been a fitter model maker, then draughtsman, in Thomson-Houston’s factories, J.G.
Lecat completed 6 months of training at the Television Studios Les Buttes Chaumont. At that time, he met Claude Perset, a set designer and theatre-architect. In 1966 he left the
factory and became his assistant; he drew with him several theatres and festival’s spaces, amongst them the famous Théâtre d’Orsay (Théâtre du Rond
Point today).
From this
date he practiced at same time, every technical and artistic job in theatre including being an actor. He took part in more than 100 productions for many directors as : Jean-Louis Barrault, Roger
Blin, Jean-Marie Serreau in Cartoucherie de Vincennes and with company as : Living Theatre, La MaMa ETC, Peter Brook CICT Company. He also works with several architects, from the beginning of his
theatre carrier as he always keeps at same time a feet on architecture and the other one on theatre stage.
From 1976 to 2000 technical director and space designer for Peter Brook Jean-Guy Lecat
was charged by particularly with research, the transformation or creation of more than 200 spaces throughout the world. Some of them are still kept as : Harvey-Majestic Theatre and La MaMa in New York, The
tramway in Glasgow, The Gaswaerk in Copenhagen, The Mercat de les Flore in Barcelona, Carrière Boulbon in Avignon, T.N.S in Strasburg, Bockenhaimer
depot in Frankfurt etc…
A book
that tells his work with P. Brook around the world is published :
- “The
Open Circle” A.
Todd J.G. Lecat – Faber and Faber London.
- “El Circulo Abierto” A.Todd
J-G: Lecat -
Alba
editorial, s.l.u. Barcelona.
- "The Open
Circle" A. Todd J.G.Lecat -
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. New York.
He left Peter Brook Company in 2000 and from that
time he did :
As
Theatre-Consultant at the side of
architects, he takes part in creation or
transformation of
:
-“Theatre for a New
Audience” architect Frank O. Gehry and Hug Hardy in
New
York.
- Project for the
new « The Other Space Theatre /
Royal Shakespeare
Company».
- “Teatro
Azul
de
Almada” architects M. G. Dias and partners in Lisbon.
- Program for the
transformation of “Teatro Trindade” in Lisbon.
-
“Théâtre Ouvert” new space, architect Andrew Todd in
Paris.
-“Tindved” an old
factory turn to theatre spaces and theatres school’ in Verdal Norway.
- “Naves del Antiguo
Matadero” slaughter house
turn to theatre in Madrid.
- “The New Young Vic” architect Steve Tompkins in London. (Winner of the
RIBA London building of the year Award).
- “The Roundhouse”
transformation of an old train depot to a
theatre architects J. McAslan and Partners in London.
- “The Unicorn Theatre” in London.
- “The Abbey Theatre” architects John Keogan in Dublin.
- “The Empty Space" new small theatre in Dublin.
- Construction of a “Street Theatre
Space” for a Portuguese company,
opening in 2005.
- “Les 3 Baudets” architect Anthony Bechu in
Paris.
- Fitting out for “Alvin
Ailey” dance festival (Les Etes de la Danse) inside of a 17th century building
(Soubise–Rohan) in Paris.
- “El
Funaro-Teatro
Blue” Transformation of an old 17th century carpentry into a theatre in Pistoia Italy.
- In
last PQ07, construction of a temporary theatre in cardboard-boxes and fiberglass over
scaffolding Prague.
- Project for transforming theatre in St
Petersburg.
- Project to transform an old building
17th century to opera school in
Moscow.
- Transformation of the Mercat de les
Flores in Barcelona to a dance theatre. Adding a new room, new main
room, new dressing room, new proportions.
- Program to transform
ArCub
Theatre, and program to transform an old
Caravanserai
in Bucharest.
- Project on a theatre
under construction in Granada for G. Lorca foundation. Advise to the client and to architects about everything who cannot works.
As set designer :
-“Himalaya
ballet", lighting - Ballet directed by R. Tremblay.
-"L'Iliade" by Homer with Kathakali
Company directed
by R. Tremblay in Singapore.
-"Der
Theatermacher” (O Fazedor de
Teatro), by T. Bernhard,
director J.Benite. (Best
play of the year in Portugal).
-“Othello” by W. Shakespeare, directed by J. Benite (Best play of the year in Portugal).
-“Titus
Andronicus” by W. Shakespeare, directed by S. Cartmell. (Winner of the best play of the year in Dublin).
-“Quarto Minguante”
by R.
Francisco directed by J. Benite.
-“Macbeth” by W. Shakespeare, director S. Cartmell.
-“Timon of
Athens” by Shakespeare/F.Sena,
directed by J. Benite.
-“Carmen” opera
by G. Bizet director
A. Bourseillé.
-“Woyzeck” opera by A. Berg, Director A.
Bourseillé.
-“Vienna Waltz” opera
by Offenbach.
-“Teresa” opera by
Marius Constant, directed by M. Constant.
-
"O Doido e a
Morte" Opera by R. Brandäo, directed by J.
Benite.
-“Mahagonny” opera by B. Brecht and K.
Weihl directed by M. Gas. ((Won the MAX Award - Best
Musical Show of the year in Spain)
-“Tre Intermezzi" opera by
Cimarosa-Capua-Cherubini, Directed by S. Mazzonis di Palafera.
-“Le Mariage secret” opera by Cimarosa Directed
S. Mazzonis di Palafera.
-“The Clemens of Titus” opera by W.A. Mozart. Directed J. Benite.
-“Il
Barbieri de Seviglia” opera by Rossini directed by
S. Mazzonis di Pralafera.
-"The Mother
" by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Joaquim
Benite.
-"Tuning" by Rodrigo Francisco, Directed by J.
Benite.
-" Rita et Il Campagnelo"
by Donizzetti, directed by S. Mazzonis
di
Pralafera.
- " Brazil" by Natália Luíza e Melânia Ramos and directed by Miguel
Seabra.
- « Before Breakfast et Hughie »
by
E. O’Neill directed by J. Benite.
- « L’Inimico delle done
» opera
by Galupi directed by S. Mazzonis di Pralafera.
-
« L’Equivoco extravagante »
opera
by Rossini directed by S.
Mazzonis di
Pralafera.
- « Cymbeline » by W. Shakespeare directed by Noah Brody and Ben
Steinfeld.
« Baba Jaga je snijela jaje »
by Dubravka Ugresic directed by Ivica Buljan Transformation of an Adriatic beach to
a spa.
- « Comedia y Sueno »
by F.G. Lorca directed by J. C. Corazza.
- « Orquesta club Virginia»
by M.Ibora directed by him.
- « Le viol de Lucrèce
» by B. Britten directed by A. Arbust.
- « A rainha louca » Opera by A. Delgado
directed by J. Benite.
- “Manon”
by J. Massenet directed by S.
Mazzonis di Pralafera.
As set and costume
designer :
-“The Caucasian chalk Circle” by B. Brecht, director Oriol
Broggi.
- « Antigone » by J.Anouilh 2 sets in paper in two
different theatres.
- « La tempest » by W. Shakespeare directed by G. Weber.
As set,
costume and light
designer :
- “Miss July” by A. Strindberg, (and lighting) director J.C. Corazza
-“The Longer Kiss”,
(and lighting) by J. Halle, director L.
Vik
- “Collected Stories” (Vidas Publicadas) by D.
Margulies (and lighting) directed by M. Haufrecht
- “Mary’s Story” by Brassaï, (and lighting), directed by M. Bénichou.
- “Teatrofocus company” Play by M. Trigo and directed by Mario Trigo.
- “La Périchole”
opera by Offenbach, director A.
Bourseillé.
- " Paula Spencer" La femme qui se cognait dans les portes by é.
- "O Vendedor de Elogios" by Michel Simonot directed by Michel
Simonot.
- "Uma Visita
Inoportuna" by Copi, directed by Philippe Boulet.
- « Georges Dandin » by Molière directed by P. Boulet.
As
director and set and costume
designer :
-“Oedipus” by Sophocles. directed by Jean-Guy Lecat
Set for Television
- Quarto Mingu ante
- O Doido e a Morte
- Mozart/Salieri
- Concurrently as, he began to share his experiments and discoveries by
organizing a workshop every two months somewhere in the world. These workshops about space are open to young professionals or students, directors, architects, set designers and light
designer.
Since 1965, J.G. LECAT has been: stage manager, machinist, flying machinist, props man, set constructor, set designer,
photographer, scenic painter, lighting designer, sound designer, costume designer, technical director, theatre-consultant for : J.Vilar, (Avignon
Festival), J.M.Serreau (opening the Cartoucherie de Vincennes), A.Bourseiller, M.Guillaud, L.Attoun, G. and L.Wilson, G.Retoré, Jean Deschamps, W.Merhing’s Théâtre de la Mandragore , B.Jenny’s
Théâtre du Vieux Colombier, J.Lavelli, C.Dasté, J.Seiler, A.Vitez, Jérôme Deschamps, J.L.Thamin, M.Constant, G.Garran, P.L.Pitzi, F.Marthouret, M.Benichou, S. Lorenzi, W. Litch, R.Forman,
J.Savari’s Magic Circus, Copi, J.Szajna, Tom O’Horgan, C.Carlson, O.Krejca, G.Marini, T.Kantor, K.M.Gruber, D.Warner, D.Donnellan, J. Benite (Lisbonne), L.Ronconi, J.P.Vincent, T.Suzuki,
A.Serban, P.Boulez, La MaMa of New York, J. Beck and The Living Theatre, S.Becket, J.L.Barrault, R.Blin, ………and P.Brook.
SOME THEATRE OR SPACES BUILT OR TRANSFORMED:
The Cloister of Carmes, the Boulbon’s and Les Taillades’s Quarry in Avignon; Théâtre d’Orsay in Paris; Warehouses Lainé in Bordeaux ; BAM Majestic Harvey, La MaMa Theatre and
Beaumont Theatre Lincoln Centre in New York; The Tram (tramway) in Glasgow; Teatro Azul in Lisbon, Mercat de les Flores in Barcelona;
Covento do Beato in Lisbon;
Gasvaerk in Copenhagen (Gas
Container); Bockenheimer Depot in Frankfurt; The Petroupolis Quarry
in Athens; Antsey Hill Quarry
in Perth and Boya Quarry
in Adelaide-Australia; Odeon
Theatre in Pompeii, Anfiteatro
Romano in Calgary-Sardinia; King
Palace in Rabat Morocco; The
National Theatre in Strasbourg; Festivals : Paris (Festival of Marais), Carcassonne, Berlin, Vienna, Roma, Beograd, Venice,
Gordes, Angers, Amsterdam, La Baule , Avignon, Montpellier, les Etés de la Danse Paris ……….. (about 200 spaces around the world for Peter Brook ).