The Laurette Théâtre is staging La nuit avant le Paradis (The Night Before Paradise), a play by young playwright Lilou Morille, from November 30 to December 21, 2025. Published by Les 3 Colonnes, this work stands out for its approach combining intimacy and history. The play takes the form of a closed-door drama in Alexandrian verse set in Marseille in January 1944, where a couple faces their last night together before the husband's arrest for acts of resistance in the heart of the theater in Paris.
The story features Joséphine and André, two modest characters living under German occupation. As they are preparing for dinner, the Gestapo knocks on their door to arrest André. Joséphine, in a desperate gesture, claims that her husband has disappeared, but their house is surrounded. This night becomes a space where love, fear, betrayal, and thwarted commitments clash. The arrival of Maurice, a Vichy magistrate and Josephine's brother, further intensifies the moral tensions between the couple, giving the story a strong 2025 dimension.
The dramaturgy is based on Alexandrian verse, which reinforces the tragic dimension of the closed setting. The author plays with codes similar to those of Greek tragedy, where the characters struggle against a fate they cannot avoid. This stylistic choice creates a sonorous and musical language where each line is designed to be immediately understood and felt, combining historical tension and emotional expression in an authentic live performance.
The show explores universal dilemmas: fidelity to one's loved one, loyalty to one's convictions, and the temptation to protect oneself in the face of the violence of the time. The author draws inspiration from southern references such as Pagnol, Camus, and Giono, influences that are noticeable in a writing style that oscillates between gentleness, modesty, and urgency. This tension between literary tradition and contemporary expression nourishes a narrative deeply rooted in the Parisian scene.
This production is particularly aimed at audiences who appreciate intimate stories set in a historical context. It will appeal to fans of psychological tragedies as well as audiences drawn to socially conscious texts dealing with resistance, moral choices, and human ambiguities. The play will also appeal to high school students, university students, and teachers working on the Occupation, as well as audiences who appreciate poetic and structured language. With its tight framework, it will appeal to those looking for a cultural outing focused on interpretation and dramatic tension.
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Dates and Opening Time
From November 30, 2025 to December 21, 2025
Location
Laurette Théâtre
36 Rue Bichat
75010 Paris 10
Access
M°Goncourt
