Theatrical experience: Laurent Ruquier plays with stage codes at La Michodière

To celebrate its centenary, from September 24, 2025 the Théâtre de la Michodière will be hosting a new play by Laurent Ruquier, entitled L'expérience théâtrale. The author and radio personality, a regular on Parisian stages, brings together two actors from different generations, François Berléand and Max Boublil, for a comedy built around the relationship with the theater itself, in a setting where the auditorium becomes as active as the stage.

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The play has fun blurring the boundaries between play and reality, between actors and spectators. What do we see in the theater? Who's watching whom? Spectators are invited to observe not only what's happening on stage, but also what might be happening backstage or in the auditorium itself. The text multiplies references to the customs of the theatrical world, evoking the superstitions of actors, the petty jealousies between generations, the implicit rules and anecdotes of the trade. All of these elements become the stuff of laughter and playfulness in a form that's intended to be both playful and complicit.

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This proposal is aimed at audiences who enjoy contemporary comedies, and more broadly at those who appreciate mise en abyme and nods to the world of theater. The presence of François Berléand and Max Boublil, with their distinctly different styles, will also attract different generations of spectators. On the other hand, those looking for a classic plot with traditional narrative development may be surprised by the reflective, meta-theatrical dimension of this creation.

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With L'expérience théâtrale, Laurent Ruquier pays tribute to the theatrical institution by playing on its codes and highlighting the unique link between stage and audience, in a show that is first and foremost a moment of sharing and laughter.

This article is based on publicly available information and is not based on direct experience of the show.

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