Théâtre du Cristal is a theatre company composed of 15 actors with disabilities and other artists with and without disabilities. The company was founded thanks to a partnership with the employment promotion agency (ESAT: Établissement et service d’aide par le travail) of Cormeilles en Parisis named “La Montagne.” The theatre group also offers training for the sensitisation of handicaps in the cultural and artistic sectors. Furthermore, they produce and perform plays and cultural events for the wider public, schools, and medico-social organizations. Théâtre du Cristal also cooperates with HAARP (Handicap Autisme Associations Réunies du Parisis), an umbrella organization for handicap and/or autism associations in Parisis. The company was founded in 1989, and its ensemble performs all over France and Europe. The actors with disabilities perform at Théatre du Cristal’s productions or participate in other castings and productions (theatre and cinema/ television). Olivier Couder, the group's creative director, has staged more than 20 plays and performances and has written many articles on the issue of handicaps in the performing arts. In addition, the company cooperates and co-produces with further artists such as Philippe Adrien and “la compagnie du troisième œil,” Olivier Brunhes, Dominique Houdart, Eric Morin Racine. They cooperate on essays for the journal “La vie comme un journal,” which they publish at non-regular intervals. Moreover, Théâtre du Cristal offers weekly, inclusive theater workshops for people with and without disabilities. The workshops are organized by Patricia Zehme, who has been working with Théâtre du Cristal for a long time. The regional council of Ile de France finances them. The workshops aim to give people with disabilities a better chance of pursuing their acting and theatre interests.
The latest play of Théâtre du Cristal has the working title Variation singulière (2021) and is still a work in progress. It is based on the texts of Philippe Minyana and Olivier Couder. The actors are on stage without a script, so they must improvise. After some hesitation, Louis offers to share and reenact an important moment of his life. Together, the actors help Louis to understand his paradoxical feelings of isolation and retreat. Also, because of this reenactment, Louis has to face his feelings of enormous fatigue and emptiness. In addition, there are currently three further plays that are performed: Loin du ciel (first run in 2018), Cristal pop, le bal poétique et populaire (first run in 2017) und Cabaret des frissons garantis (first run in 2015).