READING OF “THE BOOK OF PANTAGRUEL”

Cannibalism, revenge, betrayal, and a romanticism as cruel as it is sincere. The Theatrical Reading Club returns with one of the texts selected for Eurodram 2026.

The Book of Pantagruel is filled with delirious flights of fancy and extravagances, dark humor, and a multitude of other shades. It deals with cannibalism—whether literal or metaphorical. It concerns the manipulation of the human body and the manipulation of others. It is about revenge and love, however cruel that love may be. Betrayal abounds in this plot, yet there is plenty of romance, too.

Drawing inspiration from tales such as Gargantua and Pantagruel, Hansel and Gretel, Sweeney Todd, Dracula, Frankenstein, and many others, the stage fills with monsters—both small and large—that are as entertaining as they are terrifying: a Pantagruel in high heels, red lipstick, and big hair; a young Nosferatu serving as an intern; a rockabilly Hansel and a Gretel ready for survival games; and twin fetuses with memories of past lives tied to the Euribor…

Along the way, recipes are shared for preparing novice sailors and moralists, union-leader fists, peas with poached eyes, and other such cannibalistic delicacies.