Pastoral Simone Veil (Musculdy 2022) elaboration

The Simone Veil pastoral will be played in Musculdy on July 24 and 31 and August 6. 95 actors from the village of Musculdy (130 inhabitants). Written by Battitte Berrogain and directed by the errejent Maite Davant, the choirs under the baton of Sophie Landaburru. La pastorale souletine is an outdoor theater piece entirely in the Basque language and more particularly in souletin. Heir to medieval theatres, it was staged by l'errejent, director and guarantor of tradition, and performed by dancers and actors from the same village. The central theme of the pastoral is always the struggle between good and evil, between two groups represented in blue and red. This traditional and contemporary form of theater at the same time moves the crowds of the Basque Country and is considered a major event by the Basque cultural community. At present, it is one of the essential cultural characteristics of Soule. A pastoral is organized each year by a different Souletin village. Rehearsals last from six months to a year. Performances last around 3 hours and usually take place on the last Sunday in July and the first Sunday in August. This practice has been listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in France1 since 2012.