304 Days at the Théâtre de Belleville in May 2025

Théâtre de Belleville plays host to 304 Jours, a new production by Karim Hammiche combining autobiographical accounts and personal accounts of the military experience, from compulsory service to the SNU. An intimate, visual plunge into the often opaque world of the barracks, from May 4 to 27, 2025.

With 304 Jours, Karim Hammiche brings to the stage a subject rarely represented in the theater: the experience of serving in the contemporary French army. Inspired by stories collected from several generations, the play blends autobiography and personal accounts to retrace the intersecting journeys of a conscript from the 90s, a female soldier and a young participant in the Universal National Service. In a visual staging influenced by comic strips, this three-part story plunges the audience into the often little-known reality of life in the army.

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Through the stories of Ariski, Lou, Sandrine and other conscripts, 304 Jours would bring to light both a personal and collective representation of everyday military life. Between imposed exercises, strict rules and hierarchical relationships, the show would explore the tensions between authority and camaraderie, the logics of domination and the systemic discrimination experienced in the barracks. The military experience would be presented as a micro-society, a magnifying mirror of civil society, with its mechanisms of exclusion, but also its solidarities.

The show would appeal to audiences interested in social issues and documentary theater. Audiences interested in contemporary narratives, immersive approaches or representations of committed youth could find a fresh look at an often misunderstood institution. 304 Jours will appeal to generations who have already experienced compulsory military service, as well as those who are just discovering the SNU. On the other hand, those expecting a linear theatrical plot or classic fictional treatment might be thrown off balance by the play's fragmented, documentary structure.

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With 304 Jours, the Théâtre de Belleville presents a show that gives a voice to those who experienced the army from the inside. Based on personal accounts and inventive stage design, the show explores the relationship between commitment, authority and generational transmission.

This article is based on publicly available information and is not based on a viewing of the show.

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