The Comédie de Genève presents “C’était notre terre (It Was Our Land)”, directed by Célie Pauthe, from Friday 20 to Wednesday 25 November 2026. The play adapts Mathieu Belezi’s novel about the colonisation of Algeria.
The story
Mathieu Belezi’s novel dates from 2008. It is the first of his four novels about the colonisation of Algeria by France. Le Tripode is republishing it in autumn 2026.
Mathieu Belezi won the Prix Le Monde in 2022 and the Prix du Livre Inter in 2023 for “Attaquer la terre et le soleil (Attack the Earth and the Sun)”.
Célie Pauthe ran the Centre dramatique national Besançon Franche-Comté from 2013 to 2023. She won the Grand Prix of the Syndicat de la critique for “L’Annonce faite à Marie (The Tidings Brought to Mary)” in 2022.
The play premieres in autumn 2026. It then goes on tour, to the MC93 in Bobigny from 3 to 7 February 2027, then to Le Liberté in Toulon on 12 and 13 February 2027.
Who organises it
The Compagnie Voyages d’hiver produces the play. The Comédie de Genève co-produces it, with the Nouveau Théâtre de Besançon, Châteauvallon-Liberté, the MC93, the Théâtre des Quartiers d’Ivry and Équinoxe Châteauroux.
What to find
The Montaigne estate, 653 hectares, has belonged to the Saint-André family since the mid-19th century. Six members of the family tell, as a chorus, the end of their world during the war of independence.
Adaptation by Célie Pauthe with Mathieu Belezi. The painter Kamel Khélif, born in Algiers, paints on stage. Set design by Aliénor Durand, lighting by Sébastien Michaud, sound and music by Aline Loustalot, costumes by Anaïs Romand.
Five performers play the piece. The cast for the Geneva performances has not yet been confirmed.
Practical information
- Dates, Friday 20 to Wednesday 25 November 2026
- Times, Friday 20 at 7.30 pm, Saturday 21 at 6 pm, Sunday 22 at 3 pm, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 at 7.30 pm
- Duration, 2 hours 30 minutes
- Venue, Comédie de Genève, esplanade Alice-Bailly 1, 1207 Geneva
- Price, from CHF 5 to 40
- Age, 16 and over
- Tickets, Comédie de Genève, +41 22 320 50 01
We have gathered here all the information published by the organiser to date. Do you have more? Write to us, and the article will be completed.
Links
- Official site, Comédie de Genève
- All events across French-speaking Switzerland, Genève Infos Agenda
Sources
- Genève Tourisme, C’était notre terre (It Was Our Land), accessed on 14 November 2026
- Scènes et Cinés, show file (PDF), accessed on 14 November 2026
- Offi, C’était notre terre (It Was Our Land) at the MC93, accessed on 14 November 2026
- Fréquence Sud, C’était notre terre (It Was Our Land) in Toulon, accessed on 14 November 2026
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