Q&A with Mathieu Geffré Artistic Director, Rendez-Vous Dance Choreographer and Director of The Monocle

In this conversation, choreographer and director Mathieu Geffré - Artistic Director of Rendez-Vous Dance and creator of The Monocle - opens up about the inspirations, histories, and personal journeys that shaped his latest work. 

Here, he shares the creative process behind The Monocle, the ethos guiding its cast and collaborators, and the resonant impact the piece continues to have on audiences across communities.

What inspired you to make a show about Le Monocle?

As a gay boy growing up in the French countryside, coming of age was a vulnerable path. But that began to shift when I started my dance studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in 2001. For the first time, I felt I belonged: a space of safe exploration was being presented to me where I could finally grow as the man I secretly aspired to become. 

Paris was a territory of fear, extravagance, and adventures.  I emancipated myself in Le Marais, where I witnessed love lived unapologetically, drag artists fabulously striding through the streets and communities welcoming me into a freedom I hadn’t thought possible.

I’m passionate about LGBTQIA+ history and my French heritage, with a boundless curiosity that drives me to uncover the stories often left out of history books. When I learned about The Monocle, a lesbian bar that mysteriously closed in June 1941 during the Nazi occupation, I couldn’t separate it from more recent tragedies. The Monocle’s story felt urgent, a necessary testimony about safe spaces — and the risks we still face.

The act to make this work is also a way for me to underline the importance of my role as a queer artist and part of a wider community which can only celebrate itself for its diversity and inclusivity values. I am proud to belong to this community.

How did you go about making the idea into a dance/music production?

Some artists say the story picks you and when it happens to you, you KNOW it, the making of the work becomes an urgency. That’s exactly how it felt when I stumbled across the story of The Monocle. The process of making the work was informed by many factors; I found inspiration in important texts: Frede by Denis Cosnard, Natalie Clifford Barney’s New Thoughts of the Amazon, Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller, The Secret Paris of the 30’s by Brassai and others.

I resisted the urge to “edit” history in favour of celebrating authenticity. Conversations with experts and friends who carry lived experience enriched our work.  The Monocle allows us to reflect on our shared contemporary story and addresses our social construct with a universal resonance. 

How did you cast the show? 

At Rendez-Vous Dance, our mission is to be a space of visibility for queer voices within our industry. This responds to a real need for inclusivity and for enabling performers to tell authentic stories on stage.

For much of my own career—as a performer for 15 years—I often found myself dancing within heteronormative narratives and dynamics. As much as this realisation opened my eyes to the narrow range of narratives often presented to audiences, it also made me deeply aware of how vital it is to create work, and cast performers, in ways that allow them to explore and express genuinely diverse and authentic perspectives.

When casting The Monocle, I looked for performers who could meet the technical demands of the work while also bringing curiosity, playfulness, and emotional authenticity. Auditions and workshops helped identify dancers who could navigate the intersection of contemporary dance and cabaret, and who were eager to engage with the history, joy, and intimacy the piece celebrates. There was also an intention to embody or at least find inspiration in real life patrons of The Monocle.

Whilst making this production, it was essential to create an environment where performers could explore their own perspectives and contribute to the shared narrative. Ultimately, the cast emerged as a group whose talents, personalities, and commitment to the work aligned perfectly with the vision of The Monocle.

Who is your audience and what do you think audiences particularly love about it?

The beauty of The Monocle, from the moment we began touring it, is how effortlessly it has welcomed such a broad and diverse audience. While the show offers a strong sense of entertainment, it also carries an educational and quietly political weight, particularly in drawing attention to the disappearance of safe spaces within our community.

One of the most moving parts of the tour has been meeting members of the lesbian community who shared how deeply the work resonated with them, how it reconnected them with a space, an atmosphere, and a sense of belonging that no longer exists. The most meaningful compliment I’ve received was: “If I didn’t know you made this show, I would have thought it was created by a lesbian!” That sentiment stays with me.

Audiences come to The Monocle for many reasons: some are drawn to the highly physical, virtuosic dance; others are enticed by the cabaret influences; and many are simply curious about the world and history the work explores. For me, what matters most is the resonance and relevance of the message.  Ultimately, this is a show for everyone. It’s entertaining, informative, political, a little bit sarcastic, but above all, it is a joyful celebration of identity.

Why did you decide to have a BSL interpreter as a permanent member of the cast? 

I feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with Caroline Ryan as our BSL interpreter. Caroline is a highly respected interpreter in the North East and has firmly established herself within the performing arts industry. When the idea of integrating BSL into The Monocle emerged, it was essential to me that Caroline became a full patron of the club, that she existed within the world of the piece rather than beside it.

Because the show centres on a discreet, intimate, and confidential space, it felt completely wrong to imagine BSL sitting externally to the action. Caroline stepped into the challenge with immense curiosity, and together we developed her character with the same depth, rigour, and inventiveness as every other performer in the cast. She doesn’t simply interpret words; she interprets rhythm, tone, and atmosphere, bringing a full performative presence to the stage.

Caroline brings a dynamic energy to the stage, interacting seamlessly with the other performers and enriching the spirit of the club. Her presence also ensures the work is accessible and immersive, creating a shared experience that resonates with all audiences.

being our BSL interpreter, Caroline is a character, an integral inhabitant of The Monocle, and her artistry, personality, and collaboration profoundly enhance the storytelling for everyone.

And last but not least, can you give us a few lines about the style of the show – set and costumes in particular

The set and costumes for The Monocle were designed by Helen Hebert and Nate Gibson. With only a handful of archival images, primarily Brassaï’s iconic photographs, we set out to recreate the club with both rigor and imagination. The set is a careful homage, a miniature replica that evokes the legendary space while allowing it to exist in dialogue with our contemporary production.

For the costumes, we drew inspiration from the diversity of lesbian fashion codes, intertwined with the elegance and sophistication of 1930s Parisian style. There was a conscious editorial approach: honoring historical references while maintaining a contemporary sensibility that echoes the music’s playful manipulation of time. Most of the costumes were sourced from charity shops, as were many set elements, reflecting our commitment to working in a circular, sustainable way in collaboration with Marla King.

The Monocle was never a Montmartre club with its bohemian frenzy; located in Montparnasse, it celebrated refinement, taste, and understated glamour. The costumes and set together capture that spirit, while subtle, playful details, like the iconic monocle itself, anchor the work in its historical and cultural context. The overall effect is immersive: audiences step into a space where elegance, celebration, and queer history coexist, fully alive for the contemporary moment.