Cut! by Mathilda May at La Scala Paris: our review

Cut! Stories, lives…, written and directed by Mathilda May, returns to La Scala Paris from November 5 to 14, 2026. After a run at Théâtre des 2 Rives in Charenton and later at the Grande Halle de La Villette, this collection of short plays comes back with a cast including Mathieu Alexandre, Benoît Blanc, Marie Desgranges, Émilie Deletrez, Matthias Girbig and Jessica Vedel. Sly Johnson and Jules Darmon compose the music and sound design. La Scala lists a runtime of 1 hour 15 minutes and ages 10 and up as the recommended audience.

Sometimes absurd (cows watching a train go by, strangers stuck in an elevator, a strange creature in the jungle), often critical, but always without heaviness and with a dose ofhumor and cynicism, the scenes move at high speed, carried by a lively cast of three women and three men.

With varying degrees of seriousness, these suspended moments (some of them actually suspended, with the six actors miming slow motion for an exquisitely cinematic effect) tell the story of our time, its emptiness, its limits, but also the human feelings that run through our existence.

• To be read
• Plays to see this spring in Paris
• Shows and plays to see in Paris right now
• What to see this week in Paris? Plays and shows not to be missed

As minimalist as its subject matter, Cut! 's quick-change staging, meticulous sound work and full use of space (so much fun at the back of the stage) are sure to make even the most weary theatregoer love theater.

From hunting accidents and selfie-taking to problems of resources in hospitals and nursing homes, from the media circus on TV sets to the metoo in cinema, Mathilda May's new creation hits the nail on the head. A play firmly rooted in the times it sets out to capture.

This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.