Au non du père: created by Ahmed Madani at the Théâtre de Belleville

From December 3, 2025, to February 27, 2026,the Théâtre de Belleville presents Au non du père, a creation by Ahmed Madani performed on stage by Anissa and Ahmed. The show is inspired by a journey of discovery undertaken in the United States in search of Anissa's father, whom she never knew. This personal quest becomes the driving force behind a broader reflection on parentage, identity, and how art can accompany individual and collective transformations.

The story follows Anissa as she tracks down her father through a series of unexpected events. Encouraged by Ahmed Madani, she embarks on a journey that takes her to New Hampshire. The story, nourished by their shared experiences, brings two perspectives into dialogue: that of Anissa, marked by emotion and discovery, and that of Ahmed, more detached and complicit. Together, they question the notion of destiny, the importance of chance, and the possibility of reinventing one's trajectory.

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Ahmed Madani's staging is based on a combination of narrative, video, and sound environment. The images designed by Bastien Choquet and the sound creation by Christophe Séchet contribute to the construction of a stage space that oscillates between reality and narration. The show favors a refined form, centered on speech and addressing the audience, seeking to convey the nuances of an intimate adventure. The scenography incorporates culinary elements—notably chocolate and caramel pastries—as sensory and memorable landmarks.

The cast features Anissa and Ahmed, whose complicity structures the narrative and constitutes one of the artistic axes of the project. Their performance highlights the documentary dimension and sincerity of the subject matter, in an approach that extends the work carried out by Madani Compagnie around life stories. The production is supported by several institutional partners and subsidized theaters, as part of their commitment to contemporary creation focused on writing about reality.

Au non du père is part of an artistic approach that explores intimacy as a starting point for questioning family ties and personal journeys. By giving voice to a unique quest for identity, the show offers a sensitive and accessible form, attentive to the place of art in the construction of the self. It can be seen at the Théâtre de Belleville until February 27, 2026.