From January 24, 2026,the Théâtre Hébertot will present Dans le couloir, a new play by Jean-Claude Grumberg. In it, the author depicts an octogenarian couple grappling with the hassles of everyday life, while their adult son returns to live with them without attempting to communicate. Starring Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Christine Murillo, the comedy explores the family tensions, tenderness, and awkwardness that make up domestic life, while remaining true to Grumberg's characteristic writing style, which combines incisive humor and latent emotion.
Charles Tordjman's staging, accompanied by Pauline Masson, seeks to reveal the intimate dynamics of the couple, recreating the mundane gestures and fragilities of everyday life. The set designed by Vincent Tordjman evokes the spaces of the home—particularly the kitchen and hallway—where exchanges and misunderstandings take place. Christian Pinaud's lighting and Vicnet's sound design help to create an atmosphere that oscillates between realism and incongruity, highlighting the contrasts between laughter and emotion. The costumes are designed by Lili Kendaka.
Dans le couloir focuses on a man suffering from back pain and impaired vision, and a woman equipped with a hearing aid and dentures. Through these details, Jean-Claude Grumberg constructs situations in which the wear and tear of time, the gestures of care, and the irritations of everyday life become the driving forces of a human comedy. The arrival of their son, who is in his fifties, creates an imbalance that questions each person's place within the family. The play plays on the indecision between laughter and tears, claiming a connection with the absurd and dramatic comedy.
This creation is a continuation of Grumberg's work, which for several decades has addressed human frailty and the contradictions of everyday life through humor tinged with gravity. The author accompanies the presentation of the show with a note recounting his longstanding relationship with the Théâtre Hébertot, where he has already presented several works. Dans le couloir is thus part of a theatrical tradition attentive to family relationships and shared emotions, bringing together two performers in a stage setting designed to emphasize their proximity to the audience.
Dans le couloir can be seen at the Théâtre Hébertot from January 24, 2026.
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Dates and Opening Time
From January 24, 2026 to April 19, 2026
Location
Théâtre Hébertot
78 bis Boulevard des Batignolles
75017 Paris 17
