Points de non-retour [Thiaroye]

Amar’s father, a Senegalese Tirailleur, died in Thiaroye, shot by his own army. This past continues to haunt him. Several years after the events, Régis reads the letters written by his dying grandfather and discovers the horror. Nora wants to understand what happened in this blind spot of history and decides to produce a programme.

In this play featuring interwoven narratives, Alexandra Badea explores a historical event that has been swept under the carpet: the Thiaroye massacre. The fates of the various protagonists intertwine, linking their personal stories to History. The author invites us to reflect on the importance of historical memory and the formation of identity: how can we come to know ourselves without knowing where we come from? How can we envisage the present and grasp the future when an unknown past constantly resurfaces? This play is the first instalment of a trilogy on the missing narratives in history.

Premiered on 19 September 2018 at the Théâtre national de la Colline, directed by the author.