Photo : Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Moby Dick, a puppetry odyssey at the Théâtre Silvia Monfort
Witness a maritime legend come to life through haunting puppetry and hypnotic stagecraft. The boundaries between human movement and artificial creation blur in this stunning performance that transforms the theater into a powerful, churning sea.
Théâtre Silvia Monfort (Paris 15th)
About
The Silvia Monfort Theatre presents a stunning puppetry adaptation of Moby Dick from November 13 to 22, 2026. Directed by Yngvild Aspeli, the performance features seven puppeteers manipulating fifty figures of various scales, from miniatures to giant creations. This immersive production blends live performance with video projections to depict Captain Ahab’s obsessive hunt for the elusive white whale. The show is suitable for audiences aged 14 and up, with ticket prices ranging from 5€ to 28€. For those with visual impairments, an audio-described performance preceded by a tactile tour is scheduled for Saturday, November 21 at 18:00.
From the very first images, the stage transforms into a moving space where waves, creatures, and visions emerge. Seven performers bring to life about fifty figures – life-size, lilliputian, or gargantuan – creating a dense scenic material, crossed by shadows and tensions. At the heart of the story, Ahab's quest, carried away by his devouring obsession for the whale Moby Dick, leads the crew on a journey of no return.
Between monumental puppets, visible or invisible manipulations, and video projections, everything contributes to blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The gaze escapes, fascinated, into this theater in perpetual metamorphosis of extreme beauty.
"Great art." The New York Times
"Visually splendid." Le Canard enchaîné
"A great show in a striking universe." L’Humanité
Audio description Saturday, November 21 at 6:00 PM, preceded by a tactile tour
with Accès Culture and the support of the City of Paris
Information: publics@theatresilviamonfort.eu
Cast and Crew
Directed by Yngvild Aspeli
Created and written with Pierre Devérines, Sarah Lascar, Daniel Collados, Alice Chéné, Viktor Lukawski, Maja Kunsic and Andreu Martinez Costa alternating with Alexandre Pallu, Vera Rozanova, Yann Claudel, Olmo Hidalgo, Cristina Iosif, Scott Koehler, Laëtitia Labre
Musical composition Guro Skumsnes Moe, Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen, Havard Skaset
Puppet construction Polina Borisova, Yngvild Aspeli, Manon Dublanc, Sebastien Puech, Elise Nicod
Set design Elisabeth Holager Lund
Lighting Xavier Lescat and Vincent Loubière
Video David Lejard-Ruffet
Costumes Benjamin Moreau
Sound Raphaël Barani
Lighting technicians Vincent Loubière or Morgane Rousseau
Video technicians Hugo Masson, Pierre Hubert or Emilie Delforce
Sound technicians Raphaël Barani, Simon Masson or Damien Ory
Stage technicians Benjamin Dupuis, Xavier Lescat or Margot Boche
Assistant director (tour) Benoît Seguin
Assistant director (creation) Pierre Tual
Dramaturg Pauline Thimonnier
Director of production and distribution Claire Costa
Administration Anne-Laure Doucet and Gaedig Bonabesse
Production and distribution officer Noémie Jorez
Our take on this event
Experience the haunting tale of Moby Dick through an extraordinary lens at the Silvia Monfort Theatre. Yngvild Aspeli’s staging creates a transformative space where reality and illusion blur. Through the use of monumental puppets, visible and invisible manipulation techniques, and video mapping, seven performers bring the tragic quest of Captain Ahab to life. The production offers a dense, high-tension atmosphere that has garnered critical acclaim.
The run extends from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 22, 2026. Showtimes are at 20:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Saturday sessions take place on November 14 at 15:00 and 20:30, and on November 21 at 18:00. Sunday performances are held at 17:00. Tickets are priced between 5€ and 28€. Please note that the show is recommended for guests 14 years and older.
To ensure accessibility, an audio-described session combined with a tactile tour is offered on Saturday, November 21 at 18:00, supported by Accès Culture and the City of Paris. The complex production involves a dedicated team of puppeteers, lighting designers, and musicians working in harmony to create this visual odyssey. Early booking is advised to secure your seats for this limited engagement.
13°C
Weather forecast
Légère pluie
