Theater & puppets All audiences, as of 14 years old FR [all language subtitles]

Parti en fumée

In Parti en fumée, Othmane Moumen tries to decipher the enigma of his father. Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer… the terminal stage. Since then, he has only one lung left. Yet his father is still here. Like an unexpected reprieve. And he continues to smoke cigarette after cigarette.

The lung is the organ of sadness for the Chinese, they say. So I ask myself… Why does he do this to himself? Why doesn’t he stop? The questions flow into my head, facing this father who doesn’t speak. Why did he migrate one day? Why doesn’t he move anymore? Why does he refuse to go back? It’s not easy to get it out of him. The modesty of fathers, you know! But I went to interview him. I recorded him. I have his voice. It’s there, in the box, ready to be used.

During a puppet workshop with Natacha Belova, Othmane Moumen builds a double of his father with his own hands, to make him speak. This time gained on death is an opportunity for him to deepen the investigation, to let his father tell his story through the puppet, quickly, before he goes up in smoke for good… Othmane Moumen delivers a touching and not without humour dialogue between a son and his father.

Short form created in 2022.
Long form created in March 2024.

Mime and physical theater genius, Othmane Moumen fades this time behind the frail figure of his father, which doesn’t hold him back from breathing his vital ernegy into it. Alongside a human size puppet which amazes by its realism, the artist has also created a tiny articulated puppet, a metaphor for this father now diminished by illness.
Catherine Makereel – Le Soir

Production file
Press review long version
Press review short version
Technical rider
Photos HD

Writing, acting and conception: Othmane Moumen
Direction : Jasmina Douieb
Assistant director: Sophie Jallet
Artistic collaboration: Isabelle Darras
Sound creation: Guillaume Istace
Light creation: Charlotte Persoons
Set and costume design: Thibaut De Coster and Charly Kleinermann
Dramaturgy : Amel Benaïssa
Friendly advices : Kholektif Zouf (Myriem Akheddiou, Monia Douieb and Hakim Louk’man)
Puppet design: Othmane moumen
Objects and mask design: Joachim Jannin and Jean-Raymond Brassine
Stage manager: Lorenzo Berodes
Handling and stage management assistance : Sandrine Hooge
Accompaniment in production and distribution: Ad Lib – Artists Support
Creation executive production: Théâtre les Tanneurs
Touring executive production: Cie Entre Chiens et Loups

A creation by Othmane Moumen

In co-production with le Théâtre les Tanneurs, le Théâtre de Liège,le Théâtre le Public, la Maison de la Culture de Tournai, la Cie Entre Chiens et Loups, PAN (la compagnie !), la COOP asbl et Shelter Prod.

With the aid of Brussels-Capital Region / Be_Talky, SACD, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre Danse and Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles – Service du Théâtre.

With the support of Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes (FR), le Centre de la Marionnette de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, la Maison des Cultures et de la Cohésion Sociale de Molenbeek, l’Espace Magh, le Théâtre Royal du Parc, taxsheleter.be, ING, the tax-shelter of the belgian federal government.

Show duration	25’ (short form) 60’ (long form)
Audience capacity	300 / 200 max. for schools
Audience suitability	14 and above
Team on tour	3 or 4
Stage
Width	8 m (min. 7 m)
Depth	7 m (min. 6.5 m)
Height	6 m (min. 5 m)
Set up	12h
Breakdown	1h30