Seine-Saint-Denis to present Populaire open-air historical spectacles
- The Socialist president of the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis is launching "Populaire," a series of free, open-air historical spectacles designed to tell the story of France from iconic local...
- To develop the performances, Troussel enlisted historian Patrick Boucheron, a specialist in the Middle Ages and urban history, alongside Guillaume Mazeau, an expert on the French Revolution.
- Professional and amateur actors, including local residents from Seine-Saint-Denis, will perform in the productions.
Stéphane Troussel is taking history to the streets. The Socialist president of the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis is launching “Populaire,” a series of free, open-air historical spectacles designed to tell the story of France from iconic local sites. Scheduled for May, June, and July 2027, the project directly targets far-right narratives of a single-identity France. Instead, it presents the country as a land shaped by the mixing of populations and cultures.
Countering the Far-Right Narrative with Open-Air Spectacles
Enlisting Historians to Shape a Three-Part Triptych
To develop the performances, Troussel enlisted historian Patrick Boucheron, a specialist in the Middle Ages and urban history, alongside Guillaume Mazeau, an expert on the French Revolution. Additional historians will join the project to shape three distinct productions. The first spectacle takes place on the forecourt of the Saint-Denis basilica, focusing on the exhumation of royal bodies by revolutionaries. The second stages in a Saint-Ouen stadium to recount the popular history of sport. The third, set in La Courneuve, traces the history of migration from the end of the Second World War through the early 1980s.
Local Residents Join Professional Casts on Stage
Professional and amateur actors, including local residents from Seine-Saint-Denis, will perform in the productions.
Nous les programmons pour mai, juin et juillet 2027. Ils seront interprétés par des comédiens professionnels et amateurs, dont des habitants de Seine-Saint-Denis,
Stéphane Troussel explains regarding the timeline and cast.
Expanding Beyond 2027 and Shunning Puy du Fou
Troussel stated that the department intends to extend the triptych beyond next year to cover other local histories. Future subjects include women in the Resistance, feminist struggles, the Bobigny trial involving Gisèle Halimi which marked the first recognition of abortion rights, and the creation of large housing complexes. Rejecting comparisons to the Puy du Fou theme park, organizers frame the initiative as a cultural counter-offensive ahead of the presidential election, emphasizing an inclusive view of French history.