“It’s the pleasure of being someone else for a weekend”: what you need to know to dress up for Cévennes Week

Laurence Magnanelli, avec ses costumes par centaines, permet au public de s’immerger pleinement dans la période médiévale. MIDI LIBRE – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Dès le début de matinée de ce lundi 30 septembre, la distribution, gratuite, des tenues médiévales est assurée à l’espace Alès-Cazot.

This Monday, September 30th marks the launch of the 12th edition of the Semaine Cévenole, which runs until October 6th and is dedicated, this year, to “Women of the Middle Ages”. But this major autumn event in Alès and its region has been on the mind of one person for several weeks now: Laurence Magnanelli, the costume designer for the Théâtre de L'Atanga.

“I have my nose in the hangers”, laughs Laurence Magnanelli

For the tenth time, she is inviting the public to dress as they did in medieval times, whether they are knights, princesses, peasants, beggars, nobles, serfs or other. “I'm with my nose in the hangers”, she laughed a few days ago, as she was returning from the coat of arms museum in Saint-Jean-de-Valériscle, after having collected outfits and mannequins. In fact, she has been thinking about the Semaine Cévenole since the curtain fell on Saint-Louis in Aigues-Mortes, where 200 of her costumes paraded. “They have been cleaned and re-labeled ; “It's at least a month of work”, she explains.

She comes to Alès with, again, 450 outfits

After having taken up residence this Sunday, September 29 at the Alès-Cazot space, where she was to receive Miss Alès and her dauphines to dress them, Laurence Magnanelli receives the general public from this Monday morning (*). With, this year again, some 450 costumes! With "new", also "rehabilitated", "re-braided". Roughly, there are 250 for women, the others being equally divided between men and children. “There are always more women who dress up than men”, notes this specialist. “They still want to dress up as princesses, whatever their age. It's the pleasure of being someone else for a weekend."

Christophe Rivenq's coat of arms

Bees because he is a beekeeper, wheels because he was a technical teacher, the coat of arms of Alès because he is mayor, etc. Max Roustan has had his own costume for several years. And Christophe Rivenq, his first deputy and president of Alès Agglomération, will have his own, also personalized, for this 12th edition. “It all started with a joke between the two of us”, smiles Laurence Magnanelli. “He really liked the creation for Max Roustan and he had ideas…" The boss of the Agglo should show up on Friday, October 4, during the big dinner where the spit-roasted beef will be served. “And it will be a surprise. I won't say any more!", laughs the costume designer. After much insistence, she confides that the costume will be in shades of blue and will feature a "family crest" that Christophe Rivenq presented to her. “A simple coat of arms, but one that has a magnificent aesthetic”, says Laurence Magnanelli. “I am of the opinion to leave it as it is and not to add anything else. It is sober and sufficient in itself.” As for the outfit that he used to wear, each year, during the demonstration, it will join the one that the chief magistrate used to wear, and will therefore be exhibited in the hall of the town hall.

Hence the importance of the advice and the trust that Laurence Magnanelli and her assistants, Béatrice and Nathalie, are keen to establish. To make everyone feel good! “When someone comes in, I immediately see what will suit them. I first let the person try something on, then I recommend an outfit. And two times out of three, that's the one they choose…", smiles the costume designer. That's what you call having experience!

Work that the public doesn't necessarily see

Experience that doesn't necessarily show through, but which is important. For example, before the Semaine Cévenole, many outfits switch to “winter” mode, since the weather can become unpredictable. Long sleeves are added. “Hence the expression “it's a whole different ball game”, which comes from there”, she laughs. Also, Laurence Magnanelli insists that the distribution of costumes stops at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 5. This allows her to take a look at the people who will participate, an hour later, in the big parade in the streets of the city center. Because “This parade is a show in its own right”.

“We welcome people four by four”, specifies the costume designer

In the meantime, this Monday, September 30, the costume designer and her team will meet the expectations of the Cévenols coming to the Espace Cazot. “In general, there are always a few people when the doors open”, says Laurence Magnanelli. “We welcome people four by four, otherwise, it's a free-for-all. We want to take care of them conscientiously…"

(*): Costumes are available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Alès-Cazot space, on the eponymous street. A deposit check of 100 euros and a photocopy of the ID are required. Return of outfits (machine washed at 30 °C) Wednesday, October 9, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Capitole room, located on the town hall square. I subscribe to read the rest