Papy Quichotte, a play about old age and imagination at the Théâtre Paris-Villette

Between chivalric fiction and family reality, Papy Quichotte depicts a grandfather who dreams of being Don Quixote. A sensitive and inventive play to be discovered at the Théâtre Paris-Villette from February 19 to March 8, 2026.

What if facing old age became an adventure? Between chivalrous dreams and sensitive reality, the play Papy Quichotte, written and directed by Elsa Granat, takes you on a touching and offbeat adventure, from February 19 to March 8, 2026, at the Théâtre Paris-Villette, where the weapons of family love are stronger than resignation.

In this creation by the Compagnie Tout un ciel, a grandfather frozen in his armchair imagines himself to be Don Quixote every morning. Instead of correcting him, his family encourages him: the son becomes Lancelot, the mother invents bandits to fight, and they all immerse themselves in an imaginary story to avoidthe nursing home for this patriarch who is losing his independence. At their side, the granddaughter observes this daily drama, oscillating between fascination, tenderness, and a quest for truth.

A fiction within a fiction: theater of intimacy and care.

On stage, everyday life is reinvented as an epic tale thanks to a clever mix of acting, puppetry, sound design, and moving lights, created by a dedicated artistic team: Maëlys Certenais, Antoine Chicaud, Esther Lefranc, Dominique Parent, and Géraldine Zanlonghi as puppeteer. James Brandily 's set design transforms the space into a moving playground, somewhere between a bedroom, a castle, and a battlefield, while Mathieu Barché 's soundtrack sets the tone for the emotions, ranging from humor to tension to tenderness.

Papy Quichotte does not just tell a story about old age, it questions the place of stories in our lives. When fiction allows us to accompany the end of a cycle without pain, where is the line between protection and lies? The show explores these boundaries with finesse, in a resolutely contemporary style, the result of a long dramaturgical process led by Laure Grisinger.

A tender and thoughtful intergenerational show.

This show is for those who have already been confronted with the dependence of a loved one, but also for those who are passionate about socially engaged theater, narrative role-playing, or simply curious to see how the family cocoon can become a scene of gentle resistance. Are you a parent, teenager, caregiver, educator, or simply a lover of powerful human stories? You will find Papy Quichotte to be a powerful and sensitive offering.

However, if you are looking for a light comedy or pure entertainment, without depth or questioning, this show may confuse you. It is aimed more at an audience that is ready to be moved, to laugh softly, and to be sometimes shaken in their emotions and certainties.

An outing to enjoy with your family or a small group of friends.

What if fiction were a form of love? By slipping into the armor of a hero, Grandpa gives new meaning to his daily life, and his family, by embarking on this adventure, offers us another way of thinking about care, memory, and the end of life. A deeply human theatrical experience, to be discovered during these performances from February to March.

Come and discover this unique show, which invites you to rethink the power of stories, to cross generations, and to gently explore the strength of family ties.

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