One Life, Two Fools: storytelling and clowns at the Manufacture des Abbesses

A man recounts his life, accompanied by two clowns who embody his inner states. In Une vie deux fous, Patrick Loiseau brings his experience of bipolar disorder to the stage. The show runs at the Manufacture des Abbesses, in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, through November 21, 2026.

The story begins with a diagnosis received at the age of 60. Patrick Loiseau looks back on episodes from his life, his hospitalization and the impact of the illness on his family life. A father of five and a former executive in the healthcare industry, he also describes how the news changed the way he viewed his own past.

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Alongside him, Tobias Ohana and Philippe Avocat embody two clownish figures, associated in this story with hypomania and depression. This device brings the narrator’s words into dialogue with two partners who give shape to his inner contrasts. Humor and clowning thus help stage an intimate experience.

The three performers co-wrote the show, directed by Fabrice Salé. Réouven Rebot composed the music and designed the lighting. This blend of testimony and theater may appeal to audiences looking for a personal account of mental health, as well as those curious to see how clowning can accompany autobiographical storytelling on stage.

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