1964
The Compagnie Renaud-Barrault

Ever faithful to the world of theater, Yves Saint Laurent created two series of costumes for the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault at the Théâtre de l’Odéon. The first was for Le Mariage de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) by Pierre Beaumarchais and the second for Il faut passer par les nuages (You Must Pass Through the Clouds) by François Billetdoux, both directed by Jean-Louis Barrault.

At the time, Jean-Louis Barrault was head of the Théâtre de l’Odéon. The company he managed performed plays from the classical repertory as well as contemporary works by playwrights such as Samuel Beckett. Barrault’s companion Madeleine Renaud gave one of her greatest performances in Happy Days.

Billetdoux’s play was lauded by the critics for its innovative approach, which overturned the usual dramaturgical codes. The play adopted a different dramatic technique by focusing on sound and rhythm as well the characters’ physical movements, which were almost choreographed.