“Moby Dick, the Eye of the Sperm Whale”: A Journey Through Literature, Music, and Oceanography at theUM

[Press Release] - Published on September 24, 2026 in Art & Culture, Press Room, Science & Society

On Thursday, October 8, 2026, as part of the Fête de la Science, the University of Montpellier invites the public to discover *Moby Dick, the Eye of the Sperm Whale*, a production by the Belle Pagaille theater company that reimagines Herman Melville’s masterpiece in light of current knowledge about cetaceans. This free performance, open to everyone, will take place on the Triolet campus at 7:00 p.m.

What if we could hear the song of the sperm whales through one of the greatest novels in world literature? Published in 1851, *Moby Dick* recounts Ishmael’s journey aboard the *Pequod*, a whaling ship set out by Captain Ahab in pursuit of the mysterious white sperm whale, Moby Dick. This epic tale serves as the starting point for the Belle Pagaille theater company, which will be in artistic residency at theUM from October 2025 to April 2026, to explore the world of cetaceans and contrast Melville’s imagination with contemporary scientific knowledge.

A production that blends theater, music, and objects

With its minimalist staging, the production centers on the encounter between an actress and a musician who bring words, sounds, and seascapes to life. Object theater, origami, sound effects, sound design, and radio-style techniques come together to create a poetic world that invites the audience to set sail for the open sea.

Sounds captured by a hydrophone blend with original compositions and the unique vibrations of the Dan Bau, a traditional Vietnamese single-stringed instrument. When amplified, it reproduces the songs of cetaceans with astonishing accuracy and becomes the voice of the deep.

When Research Informs Fiction

Written in collaboration with Aurélie Célerier, a professor and researcher at CEFE and a specialist in marine mammals, rarely has an adaptation of *Moby Dick* maintained such a close dialogue with contemporary scientific research. Her expertise has helped ground the production in current knowledge about sperm whales, their behavior, and their environment.

An exhibition created in collaboration with the students

Before the performance, the audience will have the opportunity to explore an educational exhibition created in collaboration with students from the Integrated Marine Mammal Biology course in the Faculty of Sciences, co-directed by Aurélie Célerier and Bastien Mérigot.

An evening to dream, learn, and marvel.