Photo : Magali Stora
"La Claque": a delicious surprise to applaud as soon as possible!
Forget passive spectating because this show demands that you take part in the wildest theater experiment in town. You will quickly learn the high-stakes art of professional applauding as three desperate performers struggle to save their production before the curtain rises. Expect endless laughs, constant audience interaction, and a hilariously clever dive into theatrical history.
Théâtre de la Gaité Montparnasse (Paris 14th)
About
Step into the Parisian theater world of 1895 with La Claque, an interactive comedy by Fred Radix showing at the Théâtre de la Gaité Montparnasse. This clever production explores the historical profession of claqueurs—individuals paid to applaud or boo during performances. Facing a last-minute crisis, the troupe leader Auguste Levasseur must train a group of beginners to save a high-stakes opening night. Suitable for audiences aged 10 and up and fully accessible for wheelchair users, this show breaks the fourth wall, inviting you to become an active participant in an evening filled with hilarity and historical wit.
The story
1895 in a Parisian theater. Auguste Levasseur, head of a "claque" (hired clappers), leads a troupe of accomplices who, mixed in with the audience, are tasked with applauding at the right moments. An applauded play is a successful play, but two hours before a major premiere, Auguste is abandoned by his claque. He then tasks Fauvette, an orchestra musician, and Dugommier, the theater stage manager, with finding replacements to save the evening's performance.
There is only an hour and a half left before the premiere begins to rehearse the novice clappers by performing excerpts from the show, which includes no less than five acts, forty musicians, and thirty set changes! The task is daunting, there are only three of them, and tonight, their careers hang on a single clap...
After "Le Siffleur" and its 600 performances, Fred Radix returns with a new show that takes on a subject and character that left a mark on theater history, treating them with humor, musicality, and historical quirkiness.
Editor's review
As soon as you are seated, you are immediately drawn into the story and engaged, as the fourth wall is broken. Yes, the actors address the audience and even give them orders. That is how we discover an entire part of the history of French theater. Did you know that for a long time, shows were performed with a portion of the audience already won over? Professional clappers were a group of men and women hired by theater directors, tasked with applauding or booing. This lasted until the beginning of the 20th century, and we get a taste of it with La Claque.
In this show, the audience attends a rehearsal and must commit to a series of exercises. Everyone has a task! For example, there are the "ticklers," who are honest laughers; they laugh out loud, at the top of their lungs. There are the "commissioners," intellectuals who shout Bravos! What a success! Wonderful! The "weepers" are those tasked with getting emotional loudly during a more or less intense dramatic scene. And then, the "boovers," who hiss and boo the show. We then let the story of Auguste Levasseur, Dugommier, and Fauvette unfold, filled with hilarious anachronisms and clever winks!
In short, it is hilarious, ingenious, and interactive. Everyone laughs, you find yourself smiling at your neighbor, raising your voice with the person next to you in a joyfully focused atmosphere. De-li-cious!
Our take on this event
From September 11, 2026, to May 23, 2027, the Théâtre de la Gaité Montparnasse hosts La Claque, a unique show that blends history, music, and comedy. The story follows Auguste Levasseur, a professional claque leader who finds himself abandoned by his team shortly before a major theatrical premiere. With the help of the theater's stage manager, Dugommier, and the musician, Fauvette, he must coach new recruits to support a massive production featuring forty musicians and thirty set changes.
Designed for spectators aged 10 and older, the show turns the audience into part of the cast. You will be assigned specific tasks, ranging from laughing loudly to offering intellectual praise or dramatic sighs, as you help the troupe navigate the pressures of show business. This immersive experience is filled with funny anachronisms and clever nods to the history of French theater.
The venue is located at 26 rue de la Gaité, 75014 Paris, and provides full wheelchair access. As this is a ticketed event, booking is required to secure your seat. Prepare for a joyful and collaborative evening where your participation directly shapes the success of the performance.
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