"Les Résistantes" is an interactive theatre production adapted from Philippe Collin’s France Inter podcast. It highlights the vital, yet long-underestimated, role played by women in the French Resistance during the Second World War, through the stories of Geneviève de Gaulle, Mila Racine and Lucie Aubrac.
Blending historical narrative, theatre, sound archives, music and interaction with the audience, the production recounts how these women fought against the Nazi occupation, as liaison officers, activists, rescuers or organisers of underground networks. It also demonstrates that their struggle was a form of emancipation within a society still largely dominated by men.
Conceived by Philippe Collin, Violaine Ballet and Charles Berling, the project takes the form of a major collective endeavour, involving not only professional artists but also local actors and musicians. Going beyond the historical narrative, *Les Résistantes* explores the passing on of memory, courage, solidarity, democracy and freedom, and draws parallels between these commitments and our own times.
The request
The Scène nationale Châteauvallon-Liberté and Radio France Studios wanted to bring Philippe Collin’s successful podcast about women in the Resistance to the stage. The aim was to create a vibrant, collaborative adaptation, blending storytelling, sound archives, music and theatre, to bring the stories of these committed women to life on stage.
Our Solution
- The podcast was adapted for the stage, with Charles Berling and Violaine Ballet entrusted with the adaptation and direction, alongside Philippe Collin.
- The project resulted in a production combining theatre, sound archives and music, designed to extend the podcast experience for the audience. "Les Résistantes" is scheduled to tour throughout France during the 2026–2027 season.
