Elie Semoun « Cactus »

No instruction manual is needed for Cactus, Elie Semoun’s new show. On April 11, 2026, he takes to the Espaces V Roger-Lefort in Villepinte with a humour that aims for the sore spot, without détour. The title sets the tone, and the artist embraces this taste for sensitive territory, playing on nuance and incongruity.

After three decades on stage, Elie Semoun has developed a style that blends precision, boldness and memorable characters. For this eighth show he pushes further toward stand-up while retaining his gallery of figures. We encounter Jean Abdul, billed as the opening act; a son who takes his father to visit a nursing home; Xavier, in a wheelchair, introducing his wife to his mother; a father confronted with his son’s transition; and a karate instructor with questionable views. Everyday situations are recounted with a gift for portraiture that hits the mark.

Cactus offers a clear‑eyed view of our times, where intolerance, taboos and injustice make their presence felt. The tone is direct, sometimes terse, but always controlled, with Semoun’s way of sliding from laughter to a slight unease and then to an idea that lingers. One hour to explore what itches, unvarnished, embracing the complexity of the subjects and the precision of the writing.