Photo : Funambule
Why we are setting sail with "Magellan" at the Funambule Montmartre
Forget dusty history books and prepare to set sail on the most ambitious voyage of the 16th century. A stellar cast of five brings this legendary maritime epic to life with wit and verve, breaking the fourth wall to turn the theater into a stormy, gripping deck.
Le Funambule Montmartre (Paris 18th)
About
Experience the intense historical journey of Magellan at Le Funambule Montmartre. This play, based on Stefan Zweig’s work, recounts the legendary 1519 expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Through the performance of five actors, the audience explores the struggles, mutinies, and survival stories of the crew during this perilous maritime venture. The show runs for one hour and ten minutes and is suitable for audiences from age 12. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible. Catch this immersive theatrical production between December 3, 2026, and January 31, 2027, in the 18th arrondissement.
What is it about?
Come on, let's reopen our history and geography books. Remember: Magellan was the great Portuguese navigator who, for the first time, completed the first circumnavigation of the world by sea in the 16th century, on behalf of Spain. A human adventure that we loved discovering in this seventy-minute show, performed by five fabulous actors.
The editorial team's opinion
With this play inspired by the book Magellan by Stefan Zweig, Claire Boust retraces the amazing expedition of the Lusitanian navigator, who set off headlong in 1519 to find the route leading from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific through the south of Chile, with five ships and over 250 men... of whom only 18 survivors would return three years later. On stage, five actors and a few props that smell of sea spray make us relive the great episodes of this voyage. With them, we face storms, hunger, cold, extreme heat, mutinies, the reading of false nautical charts, survival... but also disillusionment.
An outstanding chemistry binds the male troupe, which does not hesitate to break the fourth wall to play better with the audience. A stunning effect of modernity that offers another look at maritime exploration, at a time when no one was certain that the Earth was round. A human fresco led at a breakneck pace, as invigorating as a squall!
- Khadija M.
Book your evening!
Thursday to Saturday, at 7 PM or 9 PM depending on the week
Sundays at 6 PM
No performances: December 24 and 25, January 31 and 1st
Our take on this event
Le Funambule Montmartre presents Magellan, a stage adaptation directed by Claire Boust that breathes life into the historic first voyage around the world. Drawing from Stefan Zweig's book, the performance highlights the grit and complexity of the 1519 expedition, involving over 250 men and five ships facing extreme climates, hunger, and mutiny. With only five actors on stage, the production utilizes a modern approach, frequently breaking the fourth wall to engage the audience directly in the narrative of discovery.
The show lasts one hour and ten minutes and runs from December 3, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Performances take place Thursday through Saturday at either 19:00 or 21:00, and Sundays at 18:00. Please be aware that there are no performances on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1.
Tickets are priced at 32 € for full price, 20 € for the reduced rate, and 10 € for those under 26 years old, plus internet processing fees ranging from 0.9 € to 1 €. The theater is wheelchair accessible, ensuring a comfortable experience for all visitors.
