In his luxury hotel room on the 16th floor, overlooking central Paris and the iconic Seine River, Thomas Jolly prepares for the grand spectacle of the 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony .
Jolly, an actor and stage director, was chosen two years ago to artistically direct the opening and closing ceremonies. "At first, I was overwhelmed," he admits. "I wondered how I could create a show where everyone could feel part of this wonderful union. This responsibility Ambitious, complex but wonderful for an artist".
More than 1 billion people are expected to watch the opening ceremony on July 26. But Jolly, 42, is no stranger to large-scale projects in France, producing a quartet of 24-hour Shakespearean productions in 2022 and reviving the beloved musical “Starmania.”
He has won three Molière awards, France's highest theater award.
Now, he is tasked with sharing France with the rest of the world in a parade expected to last nearly four hours.
“France is a story of constant construction, disruption and reconstruction,” Jolly enthusiastically explained in an interview. It's alive, it still exists."
He believes this accounts for the country's reputation for protests and strikes - a manifestation of France's constant reconsideration of its identity and values.
Behind Jolly, the scene is one of excitement, with construction workers hard at work preparing for the upcoming ceremony on the banks of the Seine.
At one point, Tony Estanguet, the head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, who was also being interviewed in the hotel, joined Jolly on the balcony, away from the media. Cigarette in hand, Jolly gestured animatedly toward the Seine as they discussed final details, Estanguet nodding in agreement.
Last year, France hosted the Rugby World Cup. The opening ceremony, conceived by Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin, received criticism for being too stereotypical and outdated.
While understanding stereotypes, Jolly is determined to both play with and subvert these stereotypes, believing that opening ceremonies often tell the story of a country.
“When we see Emily in Paris or Amélie Poulain, we know it's not really Paris,” said Jolly, who also directs Paralympic ceremonies. We're going to play with all those stereotypes, but we're also going to challenge them.
Paris is also a vibrant young man. Different cultures rub shoulders with each other on the streets."
The 2024 Olympic opening ceremony will be attended by approximately 300,000 people, most of whom are invited, with the organizers' intention to celebrate inclusion and diversity.
The original plan was for it to be 100% free, with millions of people watching the parade from the riverbank. Those ambitions were rejected by the French government because of concerns about security threats in the city where attacks like 2015 occurred.
“The opening ceremony has never been held outside the stadium. There are no role models; it was sheer creativity,” Jolly said, acknowledging the challenges.
He envisioned a giant ballet of 12 acts with hundreds of dancers standing on the many bridges spanning the Seine, as boats sailed down the river carrying the athletes to the Eiffel Tower.
Jolly is extremely tight-lipped about what will happen at the ceremony. Rehearsals are being held at secret locations scattered across France. There will be no rehearsal.
This mystery has caused much speculation, with some bold theories about the use of submarines in the Seine and performances by pop stars such as Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, or the Malian-French singer , Aya Nakamura.
“I will be fired if I tell you anything,” Jolly said with a smile, “All I can tell you is that it will mean a lot to the artists who will perform.” .
