Comu 2025: The Virginian sails into the Graslin Theater

On October 24 and 25, the Graslin Theatre will host, for the very first time, the legendary “Comu”, Audencia’s annual student musical. This is a huge milestone for the school, as students leave the familiar Theatre of Orvault behind to bring their play 1911 ou La tragédie du Ruban bleu (1911 or The Tragedy of the Blue Ribbon) to one of Nantes’ most iconic stages. For many, it’s not just a show, it is the moment where months of late-night rehearsals, endless brainstorming sessions, and creative chaos finally come to life in front of a real audience.

I had the chance to interview Clément Gourdain, the author and one of the head of the musical, who opened up about what goes into making this ambitious student project a reality. From scriptwriting and choreography to set design and costume planning, Clément shared how much teamwork, creativity, and sheer passion fuel the Comu.

This year, performing at the Graslin Theatre adds an extra layer of excitement and pride. The stage itself feels legendary, and for the students, stepping onto it is both nerve-wracking and thrilling. This year’s Comu promises to be an unforgettable celebration of talent, creativity, and the magic of student life.

Inside and outside of the Graslin Theater in Nantes

The Origin of the project

The project began to take shape last December when Clément and his friend Hugo Foulquier were appointed as the heads and writers of the Comu (musical). Both having acted and sung in the previous year’s production, they drew on their firsthand experience as first-year performers to pinpoint areas that could be improved this time around. The two friends took on this role with seriousness and a desire to create an ambitious project, devoting part of their summer to writing the play and the songs that accompany it. Their prior experience on stage proved invaluable, allowing them to refine the story, enhance the performances, and elevate the overall production for this year’s Comu.

It has now been almost a year since the two friends embarked on this creative project, joined along the way by a third writer, Antoine Royer, who brought a fresh perspective to the development of a second and final version. The writing of the play was also intended to be collaborative, relying in particular on the help of its many coaches to provide feedback and improve the project as it was being written.

The theme was officially unveiled on October 5^th with an exciting & vibrant trailer designed to captivate us with its air of mystery. On the program: a love story, vengeance and a quest for the truth, guaranteed to pique our interest. For context, the play will take place in 1911 on the Virginian, a luxurious ship of an wealthy heir, sailing across the Atlantic. My source revealed that during an intense, closed-door encounter, the audience will meet eight characters with distinct personalities and from different social classes. The encounter and mix of all these different backgrounds and stories will take place against a backdrop of mystery and tragedy, enough to keep us on the edge of our seats for an entire evening. Clément shared that he drew inspiration from the story of the Titanic, as well as from Novecento by Alessandro Baricco, the tragic story of a pianist who had never set foot on land, promising an intense and emotionally charged plot.

2025 edition poster of the Comu
Credit: Comu Audencia

A challenge to be met

This ambitious project is the result of an incredible collective effort, not only from our talented writers but also from everyone who contributed to bringing this vision to life. In total, 90 students took part in its creation, including 30 coaches and 60 first-year students, all working hand in hand across both the artistic and logistical teams. From the choir and dancers to the set designers, makeup artists, musicians, and communication team, every division played a key role. It’s a true showcase of diverse talents united by the same passion and creativity.

Selecting first-year students is a major challenge because it takes place in early September, which is a really tricky time as you have to capture the attention of new students who are inundated with information. The Comu therefore had to put a lot of effort into communication in order to attract candidates and stand out from other student clubs. Nevertheless, many people took part in the auditions, and some technical departments attracted more people than in previous years, such as the set design department and the newly created production department. It seems that the Comu’s reputation precedes it and attracts more and more people every year.

Now, whether it’s the second-year students, the coaches who have been with him since last May or the first-year students recruited in September, they have formed a united and motivated team around a common project, and nothing seems to be able to stop them.

Managing so many people under such intense pressure due to tight deadlines was no easy task. Nevertheless, Clément accepted the challenge with great optimism, confident in the passion and determination of his team. For him, communication is the key to successful teamwork. It was essential for him that the progress of each division be in line with the work of the other teams in order to achieve a consistent and uniform result. Although the technical and artistic divisions were very independent in their activities, regular meetings were held to assess the teams’ progress, and joint inter-team training sessions were organized frequently to maintain team spirit. These meetings helped avoid major problems and inconsistencies by redirecting the work of one of the teams when a set, visual identity, or music idea did not appeal to the others. The project was then rethought, and everyone could then go back to work on their own. There was no ego or misplaced pride; it was truly passion and goodwill that guided the project.

Today we are the day before the performance and the stress is mounting. Clément expects tensions to arise due to the pressure, but he is very confident in his team’s ability to resolve any conflicts peacefully and quickly. Everything seems going smoothly for the teams, who are working harder and harder as the performance date approaches.

A project that brings people together

When I asked Clément what mattered most to him about this project, he immediately spoke about the human aspect, the idea of bringing together passionate and talented people around a shared artistic vision, a common goal. What really stood out from our conversation was the emphasis he placed on cohesion, kindness, and teamwork. For him, this project is not just about putting on a show; it’s about creating an experience by and for first-year students, who are, the beating heart of the production. He explained that the main objective was to offer these students the best possible experience, which he and the other coaches priorities above all else. This experience must blend learning, creativity, and enjoyment. It’s still a student-led project, so good vibes, enthusiasm, and passion are really what keep everything moving forward. That sense of community and shared energy seems to define the spirit of the entire production.

And indeed, the upcoming show promises to be spectacular. Each team has gone above and beyond, pushing their creativity and ingenuity to new heights. Clément told me how impressed and emotional he was when he first saw the set designed by the scenery team and heard the choir’s songs. It all started with a play that he wrote over the summer, and now everything is coming to life and taking shape, it is a real source of pride for him. Also, the communication team, whose work this year has been exceptional, from developing a sharp and thoughtful strategy to designing stunning visual posters, really impressed him. He also highlighted the production team, which is bringing an exciting new feature to the stage: 3D-modeled sets projected as immersive backgrounds, adding a modern, cinematic touch to the performance. Behind the scenes, it’s clear that the atmosphere is one of collaboration, innovation and pure passion. It’s the kind of environment where every participant feels they’re contributing to something meaningful.

Rehearsal of the comu 2025:
Crédit: Clément Gourdain

An ambitious project with a big vision

This year’s musical is shaping up to be nothing short of spectacular. The team is more motivated than ever and has poured heart and soul into bringing this ambitious project to life. From the outset, the goal under the direction of Clément and Hugo was clear, to dream big and push the boundaries of what the Comu has done before. No more hours of travel to the Orvault theater, no more crowded shuttles with poor organization. This year, the Comu is taking place in the center of Nantes. For this edition, the team has chosen to perform on one of Nantes’ most prestigious stages: the legendary Théâtre Graslin. With 780 seats compared to 509 in previous years, this represents a significant leap forward and an exciting challenge. This isn’t just a student show anymore, it’s an event designed to reach beyond Audencia and invite the wider Nantes community to share in the experience. Thus this years the Comu marks a turning point, driven by a quest for prestige and recognition.

Nevertheless, a dream of such magnitude comes at a price, and so does the Graslin theater stage. It would be truly incredible for the school if this theater became Audencia’s new stronghold, but first this new edition would have to achieve the feat of selling all 700 seats. A bet that almost paid off, as Friday night is already a sell-out.

So don’t hesitate, get your tickets, there are still a few seats left on Saturday, and come support and discover the passion and creativity of Audencia’s students. Board a ship bound for America and let yourself be swept away by the mystery and emotion of the story that will transport you back to 1911 and the heart of an unforgettable adventure.