Adapted from Tanguy Viel's novel, Article 353 du Code pénal returns to Paris at the Théâtre du Petit Saint-Martin from September 10 to October 31, 2026. After its run at the Théâtre du Rond-Point, this staging directed by Emmanuel Noblet resumes in Parisian audiences, with Vincent Garanger in the role of Martial Kermeur.
In a Breton harbor setting swept by economic disillusionment, Emmanuel Noblet brings Tanguy Viel’s novel Article 353 of the Penal Code to the stage. The play follows Martial Kermeur, arrested after pushing Antoine Lazenec into the sea. Before the judge, he traces the sequence of events that led to this irreversible act.
Around him, the economic crisis, the disillusionment of a real estate dream, the scam of an influential man, and a creeping sense of injustice that gnaws away—these form the material of this Finistère-set noir. In this tightened adaptation, Vincent Garanger embodies the man at his breaking point, with the political, blistering words of Tanguy Viel, delivered in a direct address to the audience.
The show unfolds as a claustrophobic duel between speech and silence, where every detail weighs heavy. Facing Martial Kermeur, the judge is played by Emmanuel Noblet, alternating with Philippe Baronnet. The staging makes this courtroom confrontation both a social narrative and an intimate drama, threaded through the question of dignity.
Based on the novel published by Éditions de Minuit, Article 353 du Code pénal continues Emmanuel Noblet’s exploration of literary adaptations, following Maylis de Kerangal’s Réparer les vivants. The creative team brings together, notably, Alain Lagarde for the scenography, Vyara Stefanova on lighting, Sébastien Trouvé for sound design, Pierre Martin-Oriol for video, and Noé Quilichini for costumes.
This adaptation speaks especially to fans of narrative theater, readers of contemporary French literature, and audiences intrigued by courtroom narratives. Fans of psychological thrillers may find a particular resonance here, in a form that rests entirely on the density of the text, the voice of the character, and the unsettling tremor of personal conviction.
With Article 353 of the Penal Code, the Théâtre du Petit Saint-Martin hosts a Parisian revival at the crossroads of noir crime fiction, courtroom drama and social reflection. The show is set to run for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
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Dates and Opening Time
From September 10, 2026 to October 31, 2026
Location
Théâtre du Petit Saint-Martin
17 Rue René Boulanger
75010 Paris 10
Official website
www.portestmartin.com















