By the Boudu – Bonaventure Gacon

Le 11 march 2027 at 20:00

With Par le Boudu, Bonaventure Gacon delivers one of the greatest classics of contemporary clowning. Created over twenty-five years ago and performed hundreds of times in France and internationally, this cult show returns to the Prato – Pôle National Cirque de Lille, the very place where its first residency performance took place in 2000. A rare opportunity to (re)discover a character who has become emblematic of contemporary circus.

Boudu is a strange man. A gruff, dirty, and uncouth ogre, often a little drunk, who seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. He has a heartache. Perhaps it's his liver after a few too many beers, perhaps his old, tired heart, or simply that rust that, with time, ends up eating away at objects as well as human beings. Yet, despite the hurt, the regrets, and the loneliness, life must go on. He must meet up with his friends, share a few drinks, watch a sunset, savor a good meal… and try to be as mean as he can.

Through this lengthy monologue where body and words become one, Bonaventure Gacon constructs a character as repulsive as he is endearing. Behind the brutality, the swearing, and the provocations, an immense fragility gradually emerges. Boudu speaks of old age, the passage of time, despair, loneliness, and the fear of loving and being loved. Laughter constantly arises from this contrast between the apparent violence and the character's profound humanity, ultimately eliciting genuine compassion in the viewer for this grumpy clown.

The show rests almost entirely on the exceptional presence of Bonaventure Gacon. A former student of the National Circus Arts Centre and a major figure in contemporary circus, he delivers a performance of rare intensity, where every gesture, every silence, every glance contributes to telling the story of this broken man. Without artifice, in a deliberately minimalist setting, the artist captivates his audience with an incredibly precise interpretation, blending physical power, clownish precision, and emotion.

Par le Boudu is much more than a clown show: it's a true immersion into the human condition. Blending dark humor, raw poetry, melancholy, and tenderness, Bonaventure Gacon overturns traditional clowning conventions to offer a profoundly sensitive portrait of a man simply trying to keep moving forward despite adversity.

This performance also holds particular symbolic value for Le Prato. The first residency showcase of Par le Boudu was presented there in 2000, making this venue a privileged witness to the birth of this now-iconic show. Regulars at Le Prato will also remember Bonaventure Gacon's appearance with Strano from Cirque Trottola during Les Toiles dans la Ville #8, another significant moment in his career.

Performed for one hour and recommended for ages 14 and up, Par le Boudu appeals to both clown enthusiasts and those curious to discover a major work of contemporary circus. A moving, funny, biting, and profoundly human performance, delivered by one of the genre's greatest artists.

• Site officiel du Prato
• Page du spectacle
• Site officiel de Bonaventure Gacon / Par le Boudu

The Prato