Queer Performances to See This Fall 2025

Autumn is set to be vibrant and unapologetically queer on stages all across France. From Paris to Lyon, with stops in Rouen and Avignon, here are ten diverse and bold productions you won’t want to miss.

La Chair est triste, hélas

In 2023, filmmaker and writer Ovidie released La Chair est triste, hélas in the trailblazing “Fauteuse de trouble” collection curated by Vanessa Springora. Part memoir, part political manifesto, the book recounts her decision to go on a “sex strike” with men, shedding light on power dynamics and the emotional labor women are often expected to endure in heterosexual relationships.

Transformed for the stage, the piece takes on a fresh intensity with actress Anna Mouglalis alone under the spotlight. Her singular voice brings depth and humor to Ovidie’s cutting lines—particularly in hilarious moments describing her breakup with fellatio. A blend of Virginie Despentes-style wit and sharply feminist reflection, this monologue flirts with being a full-on queer manifesto without ever stating it outright.

📍 Until October 26 at Théâtre de l’Atelier (Paris)
📍 November 28–29 at Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse (Lyon)

Seeing Clearly with Monique Wittig

Radical lesbian thinker Monique Wittig (1935–2003) remains a cornerstone of queer feminist literature. Her groundbreaking texts—Les Guérillères, The Lesbian Body, and Straight Mind—continue to challenge gender norms and heteronormativity.

Now, actor Adèle Haenel honors Wittig’s legacy in a stage piece titled Seeing Clearly with Monique Wittig, produced with her experimental musical collective, DameChevaliers. Designed as both a tribute and a collaborative think space, the show also brings in writings by Audre Lorde, Sarah Ahmed, Adrienne Rich, and Elsa Dorlin. Expect a sensory and intellectual experience centered on feminist and queer imagination.

📍 October 8–12 at Bouffes du Nord (Paris)
📍 November 25 at Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse (Lyon)

Vaslav

Cabaret performer Olivier Normand, also known as Vaslav, returns with an intimate and daring solo recital. With only a shruti box for accompaniment—a traditional Indian instrument—he boldly mixes musical genres from Monteverdi and Bob Marley to Brigitte Fontaine and medieval chants.

This hybrid project, part concert, part personal confession, balances whimsical storytelling with deeper political undertones. Hosted for three weeks at Théâtre du Rond-Point in Paris, the show maintains the interactive, inclusive spirit of Normand’s cabaret roots, even as it takes a more reflective tone. A national tour will follow.

📍 Until October 4 at Théâtre du Rond-Point (Paris)
📍 November 12–14 at Maison de la Danse (Lyon)
📍 November 16–22 in Cavaillon (with La Garance)
📍 December 16 at L’Étincelle (Rouen)
📍 April 3 at Théâtre Monsigny (Boulogne-sur-Mer)

Trilogy of the Third Kind

Performance artist Mickaël Délis continues to deconstruct masculinity through his three-part solo theater series. After The First Sex, a witty critique of traditional manhood, he moves on to La Fête du slip (all about penises) and Their Glittering Lives (focusing on male ejaculation).

Together, these shows form the Trilogy of the Third Kind: a satirical, poignant, and thoroughly queer exploration of gender and desire. Hailed at the Avignon Festival, the series is set to tour across France after its Paris run.

📍 Until January 3, 2026 at La Scala (Paris)
📍 The First Sex on October 9 at Théâtre Jean-Vilar (Suresnes)
📍 December 7 at Théâtre Jean-Vilar (Vitry-sur-Seine)
📍 2026 tour includes: Sarlat, La Roche-sur-Yon, Créteil, Gap, Lyon, Nantes, Réunion Island, and more

Cher Evan Hansen

French pop sensation Hoshi takes the leap into theatre by adapting the lyrics of Dear Evan Hansen, the Broadway smash hit that was also brought to the screen in 2021. The musical tackles anxiety, loneliness, and the pressures of teenage life in the digital age.

Directed by Olivier Solivérès—praised for his theatrical adaptation of Dead Poets Society—this French version promises an emotionally charged and socially resonant experience for new and longtime fans alike.

📍 From October 3 at Théâtre de la Madeleine (Paris)

Swan Lake

Matthew Bourne’s legendary all-male take on Swan Lake returns to the French stage. Keeping Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, this bold reinterpretation infuses the classic ballet with homoerotic tension and a deeply modern sensibility.

First performed in 1995, the production broke ground with its reimagining of the swan as a powerful male figure, captivating audiences then—and still doing so three decades later.

📍 October 9–26 at La Seine Musicale (Boulogne-Billancourt)

A Touch of Virginie Despentes

Fall also brings new chances to experience the unapologetic energy of Virginie Despentes on stage.

• Woke, her punchy and politically charged monologue, will tour Montreuil, Angers, and Orléans between late September and mid-October.
• Romancero Queer, a humorous and deeply committed peek behind the scenes of a queer production, is slated for Lyon in March 2026.

✨ Whether you’re into activist theatre, poetic cabaret, contemporary dance, or musical dramas, this season is bursting with exciting queer performances to discover and celebrate.

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