A little car sputters on the water. A man settles down to read the newspaper, as a passing cyclist sprays him with water. The ordinary comes to an end when, suddenly and inexplicably, the man’s head bursts into flames. Lampposts topple; from the water whimsical apparitions emerge; mythical creatures float by; lights, explosions and fire turn everyday objects into fantastic machines, as reality transforms into an expressive drama of epic proportions—all ingeniously floating upon the waters of Lake Michigan.

A Scholar’s Perspective by Susan Haedicke
Susan Haedicke explores the history of French Street Theatre and the work of Ilotopie.

The Official Website of Ilotopie
Ilotopie’s website includes a brief history of the company; descriptions, images and videos of past performances; and images of works-in-progress and guest artists working at Le Citron Jaune.

Ilotopie is a collective of actors, dancers, sculptors, musicians and builders in residence in Port Saint Louis, a small industrial port town at the mouth of the Rhône River, near Marseille in the south of France. Under the artistic direction of Françoise Léger and Bruno Schnebelin, the troupe has presented artistic interventions among the industrial sites, towns and small uninhabited islands in the area since 1980. In 1992, they designed and built their workshop and studio "Le Citron Jaune," ("The Yellow Lemon"), so called because of its bright yellow exterior. The company travels worldwide, performing street theater and dreamlike interventions at festivals and cultural events. From the bright, colorful full-body paint of Les Gens de Couleur (People of Color) to the intricate machinery of Les Oxymores d’Eau (The Oxymorons of Water) and the environmental interventions of Réseau Éden Sous-Sol (Underground Nursery Network), the artist of Ilotopie always focus on the human gesture. Their pioneering works, large and small, from the surreal to the magical, create living images, momentary utopias, and poetic events in urban and natural landscapes.

The Production Process
Production Manager Chris Plevin periodically posts about the progress of all the elements that need to come together in order to present an international outdoor spectacle.

Watch Fous de Bassin Video
The “grand aquatic performance” of Ilotopie’s Fous de Bassin (Water Fools) can be seen in this five-minute video montage of selected scenes from the 45-minute spectacle.