Photo : Tanguy Mendrisse
Les Amants Terribles at La Scène Libre
Step into the feverish intimacy of the 20th century’s most legendary couple as their volatile love story hits the stage. You will witness the creative friction between Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais during the dark days of the Occupation, capturing the precise moment an iconic film classic was born. It is an exquisite theatrical look at the sacrifices demanded by both fame and defiance.
La Scène Libre (Paris 10th)
About
Discover the complex bond between Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais in the play Les Amants Terribles, hosted at La Scène Libre from October 8, 2026, to January 17, 2027. Set against the backdrop of occupied Paris, the performance explores the intersection of love, artistic creation, and political resistance during one of France's most challenging eras. Featuring a cast of three, this production provides an intimate look at two 20th-century icons. Tickets are priced between 20 and 30 euros, with discounted rates available for attendees under 26 years old.
After meeting its audience at the Funambule Montmartre, and then at the Mathurins, Les Amants Terribles continues its journey in a magnificent Parisian venue belonging to the Jean-Marc Dumontet group: La Scène Libre, starting October 8.
A story of love, creation, and freedom: Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais, the legendary couple of the 20th century, in a play carried by three superb actors and a visual universe inspired by Jean Cocteau.
In Occupied Paris, Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais live a love story as passionate as it is tormented. While one fascinates all of Paris and maintains ambiguous relations with the ruling power, the other dreams of joining the Resistance. Between admiration, jealousy, creation, and heartbreak, their relationship traverses one of the most troubled periods in the history of France.
Orbiting them are mythical figures such as Édith Piaf, Coco Chanel, or even Mila Parély, witnesses and sometimes actors in this extraordinary human and artistic adventure. It is in this constant tension that one of the greatest masterpieces of French cinema will be born: Beauty and the Beast.
Les Amants Terribles takes an unprecedented look at two legends of the 20th century, exploring as much their intimacy as the contradictions of an era where love, art, and political choices collide.
Written by Carole Giacobbi and Stéphane Vauthier, the play will be published by L’Avant-Scène Théâtre in the fall of 2026.
DATES AND VENUE
La Scène Libre – Paris 10th
From October 8, 2026, to January 17, 2027
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
CAST
DIRECTED BY Carole Giacobbi
WITH Julien Honoré, Louka Meliava, Eugénie Derouand
With the support of ADAMI
Our take on this event
Running from October 8, 2026, to January 17, 2027, Les Amants Terribles takes the stage at La Scène Libre in the 10th arrondissement. Written by Carole Giacobbi and Stéphane Vauthier, the play depicts the turbulent romance between Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais during the German Occupation. While Cocteau navigates the Parisian social scene and complex power dynamics, Marais seeks to join the Resistance, highlighting the intense personal and artistic friction that eventually led to the creation of the cinematic masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast.
The production, directed by Carole Giacobbi and featuring actors Julien Honoré, Louka Meliava, and Eugénie Derouand, brings to life iconic figures such as Édith Piaf and Coco Chanel. It offers a unique perspective on the conflicting forces of love, art, and historical duty.
Performances are held every Thursday through Sunday. Tickets range from 20 to 30 euros, and reduced pricing is available for those under 26.
