Biography of Jean-Guy Lecat
Officier des Arts et des Lettres
In 1966, after having been a fitter model maker, then draughtsman, in Thomson-Houston’s factories, J.G. Lecat completed 6 months of training at the Television Studios: Les Buttes Chaumont. At that time, he met Claude Perset, a set designer and theatre-architect. He became his assistant; and left the factory.
From this date he practiced every job in theatre including being an actor. He took part in more than a 100 productions for many directors as: Jean-Louis Barrault, Roger Blin, Jean-Marie Serreau or Peter Brook, and with architects. From the beginning he has always keep a feet on architecture and on theatre stage.
From 1976 to 2000 he was charged by P. Brook particularly with research and the transformation or creation of more than 200 spaces throughout spaces through 165 cities.
- A book that tells his work with P. Brook is published: “The Open Circle” A. Todd J.G. Lecat.Faber & Faber
He left Peter Brook Company in 2000, from that time he did :
As Theatre-Consultant at the side of architects, he takes part in creation or
transformation of :
-“Theatre for a New Audience” architect Frank O. Gehry and Hug Hardy in New York.
- “Teatro Azul de Almada” architects M. G. Dias and partners in Lisbon.
- Program for the transformation of “Teatro Trindade” in Lisbon.
- “Théâtre Ouvert” new space, architect Andrew Todd in Paris.
- Project for the new « The Other Space Theatre / Royal Shakespeare Company».
-“Tindved” an old factory turn to theatre spaces and theatres school’ in Verdal Norway.
- “Naves del Antiguo Matadero ” slaughter house turn to theatre in Madrid.
- “The New Young Vic” architect Steve Tompkins in London. (Winner of the RIBA London building of the year Award).
- “The Roundhouse” transformation of an old train depot to a theatre architects J. McAslan and Partners in London.
- “The Unicorn Theatre” in London.
- “The Abbey Theatre” architect John Keogan in Dublin.
- “The Empty Space» new small theatre in Dublin
- Construction of a “Street Theatre Space” for a Portuguese company, opening in 2005.
- “Les 3 Baudets” architect Anthony Bechu in Paris.
- Fitting out for “Alvin Ailey” dance festival inside of an 18th century building in Paris.
- “Teatro Blue” Transformation of an old 17th century carpentry into a theatre in Pistoia Italy.
- In last PQ07, construction of a temporary theatre in cardboard-boxes and fiberglass over scaffolding Prague.
- Transformation of theatre in St Petersburg
- transformation of an old building to opera school in Moscou
- Transformation of the Mercat de les Flores in Barcelona
As set designer :
-“Himalaya ballet”, lighting director R. Tremblay.
-L’Iliade by Homère with Kathakali Company directed by R. Tremblay in Singapore.
-“Der Theatermacher” (O Fazedor de Teatro), by T. Bernhard, director J. Benite (Best play of the year in Portugal).
-“Othello” by W. Shakespeare, director J. Benite (Best play of the year in Portugal).
-“Titus Andronicus” by W. Shakespeare, director S. Cartmell. ( Winner of the best play of the year in Dublin),
-“Quarto Minguante” by R. Francisco directed by J. Benite
-“Macbeth” by W. Shakespeare, director S. Cartmell.
-“Timon of Athens” by Shakespeare/F.Sena, directed by J. Benite
-“Carmen” opera by G. Bizet director A. Bourseillé.
-“Woyzeck” opera by A. Berg, Director A. Bourseillé.
-“Vienna Waltz” opera by Offenbach.
-“Teresa” opera by Marius Constant directed by M. Constant.
-“Mahagonny opera by B. Brecht and K. Weihl directed by M. Gas. ((Won the MAX Award – Best Musical Show of the year in Spain)
-“Tre Intermezzi“ opera by Cimarosa-Capua-Cherubini, Directed by S. Mazzonis di Palafera.
-“Le Mariage secret opera by Cimarosa Directed S. Mazzonis di Palafera.
-“The Clemens of Titus opera by W.A. Mozart. Directed J. Benite.
-“Il Barbieri de Seviglia opera by Rossini directed by S. Mazzonis di Pralafera.
As set and costume designer :
“The Caucasian chalk Circle” by B. Brecht, director Oriol Broggi
As set, costume and light designer :
- “Miss July” by A. Strindberg, (and lighting) director J.C. Corazza
-“The Longer Kiss”, (and lighting) by J. Halle, director L. Vik
- “Collected Stories” (Vidas Publicadas) by D. Margulies (and lighting) directed by M. Haufrecht
- “Mary’s Story” by Brassaï, (and lighting), directed by M. Bénichou.
- “Teatrofocus company” Play directed by Mario Trigo.
-“La Périchole” opera by Offenbach, director A. Bourseillé.
- ” Paula Spencer” La femme qui se cognait dans les portes by é.
As director set and costume designer :
-“Oedipus” by Sophocles. direction by Jean-Guy Lecat
- Concurrently as, he began to share his experiments and discoveries by organizing a workshop every two months somewhere in the world. These workshops about space are open to young professionals or students, directors, architects, set designers and light designer. He has the project to create a “Theatre School of Techniques and Spaces” in Lisbon and Moscow.
Since 1965, J.G. LECAT has been: stage manager, machinist, flying machinist, props man, set constructor, set designer, lighting designer, sound engineer, technical director or theatre-consultant for: J.Vilar, (Avignon Festival), J.M.Serreau (opening the Cartoucherie de Vincennes), A.Bourseiller, M.Guillaud, L.Attoun, G. and L.Wilson, G.Retoré, Jean Deschamps, W.Merhing’s Théâtre de la Mandragore , B.Jenny’s Théâtre du Vieux Colombier, J.Lavelli, C.Dasté, J.Seiler, A.Vitez, Jérôme Deschamps, J.L.Thamin, M.Constant, G.Garran, P.L.Pitzi, F.Marthouret, M.Benichou, S. Lorenzi, W. Litch, R.Forman, J.Savari’s Magic Circus, Copi, J.Szajna, Tom O’Horgan, C.Carlson, O.Krejca, G.Marini, T.Kantor, K.M.Gruber, D.Warner, D.Donnellan, J. Benite (Lisbonne), L.Ronconi, J.P.Vincent, T.Suzuki, A.Serban, P.Boulez, La MaMa of New York, J. Beck and The Living Theatre, S.Becket, J.L.Barrault, R.Blin, ………and P.Brook.
SOME THEATRE OR SPACES BUILT OR TRANSFORMEDED:
The Cloister of Carmes, the Boulbon’s and Les Taillades’s Quarry in Avignon; Théâtre d’Orsay in Paris; Warehouses Lainé in Bordeaux ; BAM Majestic Harvey, La MaMa Theatre and Beaumont Theatre Lincoln Centre in New York; The Tram (tramway) in Glasgow; Teatro Azul in Lisbon, Mercat del Flors in Barcelona; Covento do Beato in Lisbon; Gasvaerk in Copenhagen (Gas Container); Bockenheimer Depot in Frankfurt; The Petroupolis Quarry in Athens; Antsey Hill Quarry in Perth and Boya Quarry in Adelaide-Australia; Odeon Theatre in Pompeii, Anfiteatro Romano in Calgary-Sardinia; King Palace in Rabat Morocco; The National Theatre in Strasbourg; Festivals : Paris (Festival of Marais), Carcassonne, Berlin, Vienna, Roma, Beograd, Venice, Gordes, Angers, Amsterdam, La Baule , Avignon, Montpellier, les Etés de la Danse Paris etc……………..
