Elie Semoun « Cactus »

Elie Semoun returns with Cactus, his eighth show, on March 6, 2026 at La Commanderie in Dole. For thirty years he has brought his characters and his taste for the offbeat to the stage; here he gives greater space to stand-up, a new element in his career. We meet a new gallery of figures: Jean Abdul, who doubles as his own opening act; a son who shows his father around a nursing home; Xavier, who has a motor disability, introducing his wife to his mother; a father facing his son’s transition; and a karate class led by an instructor with very strong opinions. Themes such as sexual harassment and religion are also addressed through his acting, his voices and abrupt breaks, with that taste for characters that veer just enough to reveal the times. Cactus offers a blend of fully embodied scenes and observational pieces, where the stand-up links the stories and sets the pace. It is a show in which Elie Semoun explores sensitive subjects in his own way, with barbs, surprising reversals and sidelong glances.