The Lost Generation
AN IMMERSIVE THEATRE EXPERIENCE SET IN THE ROARING 20's
Written and directed by Mélanie Esther Dorey
Set in a 1925 Paris cabaret, The Lost Generation invites the audience into a decadent night with iconic figures of the era — Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Cocteau, Coco Chanel, Josephine Baker, and others.
Beneath the glitter and jazz, something deeper stirs : the trauma of a lost generation, the desire to breathe again, and the fragile identities seeking freedom in the intoxication of the night. The audience navigates this ephemeral world as guest, confidant, or disruptor — free to observe or participate in an evening where elegance, memory, and vulnerability collide.
CREATIVE PROCESS & PLAY DESIGN
This 2-hour immersive performance was staged in a historic Parisian brothel and designed for 55 participants with 10 performers.
The audience chose their level of engagement — from discreet observation to active narrative involvement — through a flexible structure of scripted scenes, improvisation, and open-ended story arcs.
The design emphasized non-heroic participation, emotional proximity, and seamless worldbuilding, drawing from both immersive theatre and Larp methodologies. Special focus was placed on the actors’ ability to adapt in real-time to audience choices, creating a fluid and participatory storytelling environment.
CREDITS
Cast
Scott Fitzgerald — Jonathan Chaboissier
Zelda Fitzgerald — Laure Millet
Ernest Hemingway — Aurélien Pawloff
Coco Chanel — Rebecca Dereims
Jean Cocteau — Jean-Marc Guillaume
Kiki de Montparnasse — Nolwen Kervazo
Josephine Baker — Priska Peraste
Musicians
Leigh Barker, Adrian Delmer, Duved Dunayevsky
Creative Team
Written and directed by Mélanie Esther Dorey
Original concept — Mélanie Esther Dorey & Marion Félicité
Play & Narrative Design — Michael Freudenthal
Costume Design — Sorrel Mocchia di Coggiola
Video Trailer — Les Garçonnes Studio
Trailer Music — Damien Deschamps
Special Thanks
Sorrel Mocchia di Coggiola, Massimiliano Mocchia di Coggiola, Simón Adinia Hanukai, Opium Tarragnat,
Sophia Sherman, Yvette Dorey, Joanna Wojtowicz, Adrian C.d.l., Aelys Iroise,
Jean-Baptiste Loubet, Danette St. Onge, and all our playtesters.
Partners
Copperhead Gin, Double Dutch, Mumm, Aux Belles Poules