4211 km: the award-winning play returns to the Marigny Studio

4211 km returns to the stage of Studio Marigny starting February 4, 2026. This award-winning play at the 2024 Molières revisits the heart of the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Written and directed by Aïla Navidi, this contemporary theater piece tells the story of an Iranian family forced into exile.

4211 km — the distance from Paris to Tehran. It’s the journey Mina and Fereydoun made, fleeing Iran for France after a revolution that changed everything for them. Their daughter Yalda, born in Paris, shares their story. Through her eyes, the play explores the immigrant experience, the emotional ties to a homeland left behind, and the enduring hope of returning one day.

The script draws on a deeply personal story rooted in the author’s family history. The narrative weaves together different timelines and perspectives, exploring themes of memory, heritage, and identity. The staging opts for a minimalistic approach, giving full focus to the actors’ performances and their spoken words.

The cast features a rotating lineup, including Olivia Pavlou-Graham or Chloé Ploton, Florian Chauvet or Léo Grange, Aïla Navidi or Alexandra Moussaï, Deniz Türkmen, Benjamin Brenière or Damien Sobieraff, François Bérard, Lola Blanchard or June Assal, Sandra Provasi or Céline Laugier, as well as Sylvain Begert or Thomas Drelon, or Shahriar Sadrashrafi.

4211 km resonates amid current events driven by protests across Iran. The play explores the lasting impact of over forty years under an authoritarian regime, reflecting on those who have left, those who stayed, and those who are no longer present. It tackles themes of exile, freedom, cultural heritage, and the challenge of finding one's place in a new society.

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Debuting in 2023, the play has already drawn over 65,000 theatergoers. At the 35th Molière Awards on May 6, 2024, it secured two major honors.

The play was awarded 2 Molières at the 35th edition of the ceremony, which took place on May 6, 2024:

• Best Actress in Private Theatre
• Best Breakthrough Female Performer for Olivia Pavlou-Graham

Our review:

If you haven't seen it yet, we wholeheartedly recommend discovering this play by Aïla Navidi. Inspired by her own story, it delivers a moving and powerful narrative that strikes a chord with current events. An essential production from both a cultural and social perspective.

While theatre is primarily a form of cultural entertainment, it also serves as a platform for advocacy, storytelling, and raising awareness. That is precisely what Aïla Navidi achieves through her writing and direction. It makes you cry, laugh, and realize the struggles faced by thousands. The play is outspoken and vital.

The staging, intentionally minimalist, complements the story with subtlety and poetry. Themes of exile, identity, and freedom intertwine around love and family. Some scenes may seem secondary and slightly extend the length, but overall, it remains a striking example of contemporary theatre.

The revival at the Studio Marigny continues this journey. It offers a fresh opportunity to experience this production once again, set within the Parisian theater scene, in a format tailored to the Studio’s intimate setting.

The show will be premiering at Studio Marigny starting February 4, 2026.