Le Nozze di Figaro at the Théâtre de la Pleine Lune in 2013: the full moon above the audience and the stageFull moon · 2013

A legacy

Performing by moonlight.

Opera director Humbert Camerlo and engineer Peter Rice imagined a theatre without spotlights: the stage is lit only by the full moon, reflected by mirrors.

2013

Les Noces de Figaro under the moon

In 2013, Alexandre Camerlo revived Le Nozze di Figaro with the Operacting company at the Théâtre de la Pleine Lune, where he was born: the performance was lit by moonlight alone.

He has also developed several prototype lunar collectors to multiply this light on stage.

The moonlit stage, audience in the foreground
The audience on the stone tiers at night
Overall view of the open-air theatre at night

Photos © Danielle Voirin

Today

The Full Moon Theatre

The project is led by the Full Moon Theatre, a UK-registered charity co-founded by Alexandre Camerlo: reflector-building workshops, research with architecture schools, performances in the forest.

In France, Operacting is preparing Pleine Lune evenings under the Dôme : part of the cover is removed and mirrors placed around the dome reflect the moonlight onto the stage.

Visit fullmoontheatre.org