Interview With Coralie Coscas

This week we interviewed Coralie, who plays Aouda in Around the World in 80 Days with English surtitles at the Théâtre du Splendid! Find out what she had to say about her character, the show, and playing for an international audience, then discover her top Paris tips!

TiP: Can you describe your character for us?

Coralie: She is a young Indian lady who was forced to marry a Raj. The Raj has just died, and in India there’s this great ritual that means she has to be burnt at the stake to follow in her husband's footsteps… In a stroke of luck a wonderfully charming man saves her, leading her to fall madly in love with him. She hopes that she’ll finally be able to build a life with a man she actually loves (she’s a romantic). She is a bit of a “starry-eyed” young girl, curious about “it”; at times very blonde for a brunette, very naïve, vivacious, and always keen to help things along.

TiP: How long have you been playing Aouda?

C: Almost four years now, and it’s flown by!

TiP: In what way is it different to act for an international audience? Have you had to change anything in the way you play to adapt for the new audience?

C: When we first started acting with the surtitles we did slow down the delivery of the lines a bit, but outside of that I guess you can say that it's just like individual audience members who are different every evening. That’s what’s so wonderful and so surprising for an actor. 

TiP: In your opinion why is Around the World in 80 Days so well suited to an international audience?

C: It’s a subject and a story that is known all over the world, and that has been adapted for cinema, so the audience already knows what the show is about. What they might not know, though, is that this adaptation is comic, and there are lots of moments of visual humour. 

TiP: Is it difficult to do the same show every night for so long? How do you make sure that your performance is fresh each night?

C: It’s really great to get the opportunity to act in a show like this, and you have to cherish it so that the audiences keep wanting to come back again and again… Every night you have to pretend that you’re saying the lines for the first time. There aren’t many shows that have been playing as long as this one!

TiP: What is your favourite moment in the play?

C: There are loads! But I especially love all the times when Aouda expects Philleas to kiss her…

TiP: Other than ‘Around the World…’ what is your favourite play, and why?

C: I’m torn between ‘Andromache’ by Racine and ‘Don’t Trifle with Love’ by Musset. In both of them the text is beautiful, full of spine-tingling imagery. I love speaking the words that the authors have put in the mouths of their characters - it’s like the best cake in the world. 

TiP: Do you have any top tips for people visiting Paris for the first time (apart from seeing ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ of course!)

C: Yes!

• Go out at night around Hôtel de Ville, l'Île Saint Louis and behind Notre-Dame – the banks of the Seine are gorgeous…
• Go around the Louvre and over the Pont des Arts too. Paris is so wonderful at night. 
• Grab dinner at Coupe-Chou, 11 rue Lanneau in the 5th district. It is beautiful with its arched stone beams, and the food is great too.
• Eat chocolates at Patrick Roger’s on Boulevard Saint Germain. 
• Have an ice-cream at Bertillon on Île Saint Louis. 
• Try the amazing cakes at Pain de Sucre, 14 rue Rambuteau in the Marais.
• Taste the amazing culinary creations of Monjul, 28 rue des Blancs Manteaux, also in the Marais...

You can see Coralie in action by booking tickets to see ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ with English surtitles at Théâtre du Splendid!

Coralie has a great YouTube channel with lots of fun theatre-related interviews, features & behind the scenes sneak peeks. For the French speakers amongst you, make sure to check it out here!