#Theatre

Thursday 9 January 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Whom do we love, when we love? Do we ever know who it is that's loved? Is shared love nothing more than a fortunate misunderstanding? These eternal mysteries around the meaning of love are the stage for a showdown between two men. Abel Znorko, a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, has withdrawn to a hermit-like existence on an island off the north of Norway, with coke, alcohol and psychedelics his only companions. There, he constantly relives his passionate yearning for a woman with whom he has been corresponding for years. Erik Larsen is a journalist, who has asked for an interview as a pretext for meeting the author. But what is his hidden agenda? And how is he linked to the woman who Znorko claims still holds his heart? And just why has this bitter old misanthrope, with his dark glasses, silk robe and shotgun, agreed to receive him?

Friday 17 January 2025, at 8 pm, Grimaldi Forum Monaco
What happens when someone leaves without so much as a goodbye? That's what Julien did to Maud, and she cannot forgive him for it. He is a famous psychoanalyst and she a world renowned pianist. Together, they are going to have to take stock of their lives and their relationship. Amid anger and laughter, they take turns to confess their innermost secrets in one final attempt to find meaning in life. Tonight, they will either go their separate ways, or fall in love all over again. Tonight, they will remake their destiny.

Thursday 30 January 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
There are rabbits appearing all around us, even in the parks and gardens of our beloved capital. But where are they coming from? Is this the latest manifestation of climate change? A sign of inexorable evolution at work? Former geographer Frédéric Ferrer attempts to answer these huge questions in the seventh part of his series of partly tongue-in-cheek lectures, begun in 2010. Accompanied by comedian Hélène Schwartz, he plunges into an all-encompassing investigation, with diagrams, equations, medieval engravings, and cuddly toys. A caustic masterclass that's as entertaining as it is enlightening.

Thursday 23 January 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Richard Berry explores four of the most momentous cases of the 20th century, through the speeches made by some of history's great lawyers: Maître Jakubowicz at the trial of Klaus Barbie for crimes against humanity. Maître Labori at the trial of Emile Zola and the Dreyfus Affair. Maître Dupin on the question of euthanasia. Maître Molteni, in a public speaking competition, on crimes of solidarity.

Thursday 20 February 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
They lived together for 20 years, but did they share the same experience? Valentine and Sam are having couples therapy. Sam would frankly rather be anywhere else. Valentine sees it as vital. She talks about their life, but Sam interjects: that was most certainly not how he remembers it! And so he starts to tell his side of the story. So... who's right, and who's wrong? You be the judge.

Tuesday 25 February 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
A delightfully dark and cruel comedy. André Bitos is a working class boy who grew up to become a state prosecutor, embarking on a reign of terror in the days following the liberation of France. Returning to his hometown in provincial France, he is invited by his old classmates - now members of high society - to a special dinner at which every guest is expected to come as a figure from the French Revolutionary. Bitos goes as Robespierre. But the evening is a trap. In a recreation of the revolutionary Terror and Purification, Bitos will be plied with drink before revealing the "Imposter" beneath the mask of the "Incorruptible", humiliating him and bringing his career to an ignominious end.

Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March 2025, Grimaldi Forum Monaco
This show featuring real actors and puppets takes us aboard the Nautilus, Captain Nemo's legendary submarine resembling half sea monster, and half cutting edge technological wonder. All the famous characters from Jules Verne's classic novel are here, from Professor Aronnax and his loyal servant Conseil who, before becoming shipwrecked and being taken prisoner by Nemo, had gone hunting for the giant narwhal aboard the US Navy frigate Abraham Lincoln, alongside harpooner Ned Land. Captain Nemo, a true modern pirate, forces them to sail with him on a voyage across the world's oceans, where scientific experiments mingle with the poetry of the deep. The actors, accompanied by a troupe of fish, invite us to join them in an expedition to explore the classic literary masterpiece.

Thursday 6 March 2025, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Three close friends of more than fifteen years' standing suddenly find the foundations of their friendship shaken when Serge buys a whiteboard. “What are old friends? Friends who have known each other for a long time? Sure, but what else? When everything changes, when all is turned upside down, when movement is the only constant in our lives, what does an old friend look like? Because when all's said and done, can yesterday's friends still be friends today? What's a friend of 30 years? Perhaps someone perfectly unknown to us.” François Morel

Tuesday 11 March 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
“Richard III is without doubt a monument of dramatic tragedy. As in Othello or Macbeth, hubris reigns supreme, mocking its victims in both body and mind, inexorably culminating in a bloodbath. The thirst for vengeance, the hunger for power, the irresistible desire to eliminate all those who stand in one's way, the intimate relationship with fate, auguries magnified by ghostly apparitions, characters haunted by betrayal, and violent punishment all make up this maelstrom of poetry and fury.” William Mesguich

Tuesday 18 March 2025, at 8 pm, Grimaldi Forum Monaco
Can't Pay? Won't Pay! is one of the great contemporary comedies. A thought-provoking, satirical play, anchored in the social and political realities of the time by its writers Dario Fo and Franca Rame. This is a veritable dramatic "war machine", with a humorous style almost unique in contemporary theatre. The comedic mechanics of the play push into the territory of the absurd, all the better to showcase the human behaviours and dysfunctions of our western societies. This is the French language version.

Thursday 27 March 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
In this brilliant detective story, a woman has disappeared. Her husband, Daniel Corban reports his wife Elisabeth missing. When the village priest tells him he has found her, Daniel is dumbstruck. The woman claiming to be his wife... is not. More shocking still is the fact that, since they were only recently married, nobody else seems to know what Mme Corban looks like. This Mme Corban says her husband is suffering from amnesia. Has he gone mad, or is he the victim of some diabolical scheme? A debonair police commissioner takes charge of the investigation...

Tuesday 1 April 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Théophile is a successful author who's hit a slump. He regains his mojo with a short, poetic tale on an aquatic theme. But disaster strikes when his aghast loved ones read it, as they see themselves in the characters, findings hidden messages in the depictions of sea urchins, octopuses, and other denizens of the deep. Tonight, they come together for what promises to be an eventful dinner, where scores will be settled.

Tuesday 8 April 2025, at 8 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Issa, a young Eritrean left for dead in the Calais "jungle", has lost his memory. The only tangible trace of his past is his passport. He embarks on a long and pitfall-ridden quest to secure a residence permit, surrounded by others who have found themselves in equally desperate circumstances.

Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 April 2025, Théâtre Princesse Grace
With its themes of rebelling against conformity, self-discovery, and finding ones hidden depths, Dead Poets Society remains strikingly topical even three decades after its successful cinema release. Keating, a charismatic teacher with unorthodox methods, teaches his students about freedom, confidence, and faith in a future shaped by our own choices. Starring a superb Stéphane Freiss in the role of the free-spirited teacher and a fine cast of young actors, Dead Poets Society leaves us with a universal lesson that remains as precious as it ever was: carpe diem!

Thursday 8 May 2025, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Starring the comedian, actor, and professional stage Marie Fortuit accompanied by pianist Lucie Sansen, this musical recounts the story of how Anne Sylvestre's poetic and political legacy resonates with the careers of two thirtysomething artists in the 2020s. Through the memorable or more intimate songs of Anne Sylvestre, the autofictional writings of Marie Fortuit and the musical arrangements of Lucie Sansen, a powerful, hard-hitting heritage emerges, a feminist constellation is born, chanelling priceless echoes and natural pathways.

Wednesday 8 January at 4.30 pm, Thursday 9, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 January at 8 pm, and Sunday 12 January at 4.30 pm, Théâtre des Muses
The epic tale of the Odyssey, retold through song and dance by two performers playing fifteen characters. An all-new version of the classic, in concentrated, explosive form! After the Trojan war, Ulysses decides to return home to Ithaca. But fate and the gods have other ideas, and the voyage will be laden with dangers in the shape of a multitude of monsters, from witches to cyclops and other sea creatures. It will be ten years before Ulysses sets eyes on his beloved Penelope once more...

Thursday 16, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 January at 8 pm, and Sunday 19 January at 4.30 pm, Théâtre des Muses
An extraordinary performance by an explosively energised duo, that changes every night! Asked about the morale of the French people, the President has had a revelation. “I make things up as I go along and it works for me, so the people of France should do the same.” So he tasks Agent K, commanding officer at French spy agency DGSE, assisted by Ducci, with going out to meet the people and raising their spirits through the humanist, amusing virtues of improvisational theatre. The audience too will have their part to play in "saving" France.

Wednesday 22 January 2025, at 4.30 pm, Théâtre des Muses
A story full of poetry, hope, and courage, and a magical mix of dance, songs, and acting. To ensure he is always cheerful and never loses his good humour, Jango locks away all his fears in a box. But today, when he opens his precious joke book, he finds himself face to face with a monster called Grock who stops him from making the children laugh. Luckily, his clown flower Lily sees his despair, and is ready to do everything she can to help him regain his self-belief.

Saturday 25 January at 4.30 pm and Sunday 26 January at 11 am, Théâtre des Muses
A story full of poetry, hope, and courage, and a magical mix of dance, songs, and acting. To ensure he is always cheerful and never loses his good humour, Jango locks away all his fears in a box. But today, when he opens his precious joke book, he finds himself face to face with a monster called Grock who stops him from making the children laugh. Luckily, his clown flower Lily sees his despair, and is ready to do everything she can to help him regain his self-belief.

Wednesday 29 January 2025, at 4.30 pm, Théâtre des Muses
Follow the crazy adventures of Sébastien as he looks for a job and suddenly finds himself employed as a zookeeper – despite knowing nothing about animals! Undaunted, he plucks up his courage and takes the audience along with him to meet the zoo’s residents. And that’s when everything starts to go wrong. The tortoise has swallowed a ball, the seal’s famished, the crocodile has toothache, and the lion is down in the dumps! A show full of humour, with a dash of magic and a pinch of audience participation that’s sure to go down a storm with the kids!

Saturday 1 February at 4.30 pm and Sunday 2 February at 10.30 am, Théâtre des Muses
Follow the crazy adventures of Sébastien as he looks for a job and suddenly finds himself employed as a zookeeper – despite knowing nothing about animals! Undaunted, he plucks up his courage and takes the audience along with him to meet the zoo’s residents. And that’s when everything starts to go wrong. The tortoise has swallowed a ball, the seal’s famished, the crocodile has toothache, and the lion is down in the dumps! A show full of humour, with a dash of magic and a pinch of audience participation that’s sure to go down a storm with the kids!

From Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 January 2025, Théâtre des Muses
To raise their depressed mother's spirits and revive her zest for life, a seven-year old child begins making a list of all the brilliant things about the world. The child grows up. The list gets longer... until there are a million great things on it! Taking a light-hearted look at the theme of resilience, this worldwide best-seller won the hearts of the public and critics alike. Deftly blending comedy and improvisation, the dazzling actress invites the audience to become part of the story, turning a one-woman show into a triumphant ensemble performance.

Wednesday 29 January 2025, at 2.30 pm, Théâtre des Muses
Follow the adventures of Sébastien as he looks for a job and suddenly finds himself working as a zookeeper, despite having absolutely no experience with animals! He plucks up his courage and takes the audience with him to meet the zoo's residents. And that's when things start to go wrong! The seal's hungry, the crocodile has toothache, the lion's down in the dumps, and Fernand's spreading scurrilous gossip! A show made with a generous helping of humour, a sprinkling of magic, and a dash of audience participation!

Saturday 1 February at 2.30 pm and Sunday 2 February at 11.30 am, Théâtre des Muses
Follow the adventures of Sébastien as he looks for a job and suddenly finds himself working as a zookeeper, despite having absolutely no experience with animals! He plucks up his courage and takes the audience with him to meet the zoo's residents. And that's when things start to go wrong! The seal's hungry, the crocodile has toothache, the lion's down in the dumps, and Fernand's spreading scurrilous gossip! A show made with a generous helping of humour, a sprinkling of magic, and a dash of audience participation!

Thursday 30, Friday 31 January and Saturday 1 February at 8 pm, Sunday 2 February at 4.30 pm, Théâtre des Muses
In a daydream, a decidedly chipper saviour of France takes Macron to task. Perhaps the great De Gaulle has some answers? Some advice to offer? Or maybe some criticisms? "So, young man, how fares France today, the vast world, the English, the Chinese, the Americans? And the people of France, have you told them you understand what they were telling you?" This Voltarian tale looks at what has changed in the last five decades, and asks whether there can still be a meaningful dialogue between our present and our recent past, the age before globalisation and smartphones.