The Sun King: The iconic musical at Paris Dôme this winter 2025-2026

Powdered wigs and corsets are going to be in short supply ... because the Sun King is back in action in December 2025! Twenty years after its very first performance, Kamel Ouali and Dove Attia's cult musical makes a comeback worthy of Versailles.

Hear ye, hear ye, ladies and gentlemen - Le Roi Soleil is ready to reclaim his throne in 2025 at the Dôme de Paris! Twenty years after its premiere, Kamel Ouali and Dove Attia's cult musical comedy, now produced by Décibels Productions, will make its grand return to Paris from December 4, 2025 to January 18, 2026, before touring the whole kingdom... or rather, the whole of France!

Since its coronation in 2005 at the Palais des Sports, this flamboyant show, retracing the loves and ambitions of Louis XIV, has dazzled over 1.6 million spectators in 380 performances in France, Switzerland and Belgium, according to Chéri FM. The show's timeless anthems, from "Être à la hauteur" to "Je fais de toi mon essentiel", have left their mark on a generation, and in the process have crowned two great singers: Emmanuel Moire, imperial as the Sun King, and Christophe Maé, unforgettable as the rebellious brother.

And good news for the Court faithful: Emmanuel Moire dons the crown of Louis XIV! Alongside him, Flo Malley (The Voice, Salut les Copains, Paradis Latin) becomes the Duc de Beaufort, while Louis Delort (The Voice, 1789: Les Amants de la Bastille), as the King's brother, promises to stir up a bit of excitement at the Court.

On the ladies' side, the female roles add a little more charm to the Court: Lou (The Voice Kids, Molière le spectacle musical) is Marie Mancini, Clara Poulet becomes Madame de Maintenon, Vanina plays Isabelle, the people's daughter, and Margaux Heller (The Voice, Flash Dance) will interpret Madame de Montespan.

This return is in the tradition of the great revivals, following in the footsteps of The Ten Commandments and Notre-Dame de Paris, other monuments of French musical comedy. The curtain opens on a royal return... Ready to dive back into the legend?

Our opinion:

Forget your golden memories from 2005… The Sun King 2025 version takes the stage at the Dôme de Paris with a total overhaul—boldly modern and occasionally disorienting. Gone are the elaborate baroque sets: instead, vast 2D screens now dominate the scenery. This daring shift makes the first act feel a bit cold and less immersive than expected. But after the intermission, technology finally finds its stride: Versailles lights up, splendor unfolds, and the production swells in grandeur. While opinions may differ, the team fully embraces its goal to refresh this beloved classic.

And this modernization doesn’t stop there: the new production features more dialogue, additional scenes, and richer context—an expanded story that clarifies the plot and better highlights the stakes. Costumes sport pastel hues, moving away from the traditional golds and embellishments, which is quite surprising for a reign as flamboyant as this one. This restrained palette aligns with the show's artistic vision, even if it might disappoint those who love opulence.

On stage, the new cast rises to the occasion: Emmanuel Moire, the show’s linchpin, continues to command with his magnetic presence; Lou Jean, aka Marie Mancini, dazzles with her crystalline voice; and Louis Delort brilliantly takes on the role of the king’s brother, previously played by Christophe Maé. The soundtrack remains flawless: the pop-rock arrangements from 2005 feel just as fresh, enduring without aging. While the absence of a live orchestra—once part of several performances—may be felt, it’s impossible to deny the timeless strength of these tunes. The two or three new songs, however, don’t significantly advance the narrative, despite efforts to expand the score.

The tempo never falters: there’s hardly a quiet moment, with seamless transitions between scenes, rap sequences, breakdancers, and a climactic finale. A few flaws linger, such as interactions with the audience that break immersion and some parts whose meanings remain unclear...

Ultimately, the 2025 edition is a bold gamble—more densely packed, more explicitly told, sometimes uneven, less emotionally charged than the original, but fueled by a confidently contemporary energy. A new take that shakes things up without abandoning the legacy of a beloved classic.

The only downside inside the hall: visibility varies greatly depending on your seat (for context, we were seated in the Center Circle, row 10, and the view was still quite limited), and smartphones—though permitted—sometimes break the magic. Moments of enchantment are lost when the screen lights up.