Theater directors Liermier and Bellorini celebrate friendship in Carouge handover

In a rare display of camaraderie within the often-competitive cultural world, Jean Liermier, the departing director of Geneva's Théâtre de Carouge, and his successor, Jean Bellorini, jointly presented the theater's 2026-2027 season. The event, held on Saturday, transformed the theater into a stage for friendship, with Schubert's music and a dreamlike set setting the scene.

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The world of culture is anything but fraternal, but sometimes there are enchanted oases.

Liermier, who has led the Genevan institution since 2008, and Bellorini, who currently directs the Théâtre National Populaire in Villeurbanne until January 2027, curated this shared season. They performed the presentation three times in a single day, each session lasting 90 minutes and drawing enthusiastic crowds. The audience responded not only to the anticipated handover but also to the visible bond between the two men.

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Two faithful friends remembering the first spark, deep down.

As a symbolic gesture, the entire theater team joined Liermier and Bellorini on stage at the end of the presentations. The applause that followed celebrated the peaceful transition and the collaborative spirit fostered within the institution. This event offered an 'enchanted oasis' in a world where such collegiality is seldom seen.

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They were eager to stage their friendship.