Et à la fin, ils meurent (And in the end, they die): a biting comedy at the Manufacture des Abbesses

The Manufacture des Abbesses presents a new adaptation of Et à la fin, ils meurent (And in the End, They Die), a comedy inspired by Lou Lubie's comic book, which revisits fairy tales from an analytical and documented perspective. The author reveals the violence, origins, and codes of these foundational stories, far from their sugarcoated image. This show is fully in line with the performing arts and accompanies the dynamics of the Parisian scene in 2025, offering an accessible and cross-disciplinary cultural outing.

Directed by Antoine Brin, the adaptation takes the form of a direct address in which four characters take over the stage to restore what they present as the authentic version of the tales. The work is based on a frontal performance style similar to stand-up comedy, punctuated by commentary, meta digressions, and humorous breaks. The aesthetic combines popular references, deliberate anachronisms, and a deliberately trashy tone, in keeping with the spirit of the comic book. This hybrid approach affirms the contemporary dimension of the project and is part of a 2025 creative approach geared towards a critical reinterpretation of traditional stories.

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The cast includes Pierre-André Ballande, Virgile Daudet, Leïla Moguez, Eugénie Gendron, and Clara Leduc. The set design and poster are by Sabrina Moguez, and the music is by Simon Vantheemsche. The ensemble highlights the contradictions, stereotypes, and social implications of the original tales, confronting them with the current codes of theater in Paris. This theatrical proposal questions the place of myths in the collective imagination and the challenges of their reinterpretation.

The show is part of a movement to revisit heritage figures through contemporary dance, theater, and performance, exploring cultural transmission, founding narratives, and the representation of gender norms. The stage talk with Lou Lubie on Monday, November 24, at 9 p.m. will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into the themes addressed and engage the project in a dialogue with the audience. The show can be seen at the Manufacture des Abbesses from November 23, 2025.

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