Taxi Story : a play that upends the conventions of traditional theatre - our review

A theatre production to discover beyond the usual theatre—interested? That’s what the Zone 34 company offers with their new show Taxi Story. The piece, now staged at La Folie Théâtre since March 13, 2026, upends the conventions of traditional theatre, conceived as a fully immersive visual and sonic experience.

In Taxi Story, a solitary taxi driver sets off on a time-travel journey to save his love. On Saturday, September 22, 2018: Léo and Julie each inhabit realities pulling them apart; on Friday, September 13, 2013: Julie first climbs into Léo’s taxi. Five years have passed, but what exactly did they live through during that time? This immersive visual and sonic experience blurs the line between past and present, offering a bold, promising new direction for theater.

• To be read
• This week's top picks for Paris and the Île-de-France region, August 31–September 6, 2026

Plays to see this winter in Paris
Take advantage of winter evenings to discover the must-see plays in Paris. Dramas, comedies, classics: you name it! [Read more]

The play steps away from traditional theatre to lean toward cinema, with the actors facing a mirror but their backs to the audience. A show promising that the lighting and music will envelop spectators in a mood that is both intense and intimate, reinforced by a deliberately limited audience of just 16 people.

Our review:

A bold artistic gamble brilliantly pulled off by Zone 34. Upon entering their studio, you’re ushered into a small room where two actors wait for you, seated on chairs facing a mirror. You take a seat opposite the mirror in this softly lit space, and the show begins. The audience can experience the play from two angles—watch the actors or gaze into the mirror—creating an unconventional staging that opens the performance in striking fashion.

We’re carried away almost immediately by the protagonists’ story as we witness a series of vignettes from their lives, and a tale comes vividly to life before our eyes. The intimate setting, with the actors so close, invites you to truly step into their world and feel their emotions. The performances by the two actors ( Cyril Durel and Naima Maurel ) are remarkable and will carry you through their deeply moving story. If you’re craving a theatre experience that breaks the mold, Taxi Story is an absolute must-see.