French theatre production Littoral arrives in Shanghai following acclaimed performances in China in 2024. Written and directed by Wajdi Mouawad, the play follows a young man's journey to bury his father, unfolding into a story about memory, belonging, and life after war.

About the Show

Littoral tells the story of Wilfrid, a young man who never knew his father. After learning of his father's death while living abroad, he decides to return his father's body to the homeland he has only heard about through stories.

Instead of finding acceptance, he arrives in a country scarred by war, where cemeteries are full and even his father's relatives refuse the burial. Carrying the coffin across the landscape, Wilfrid is accompanied by his father's ghost and meets a group of young people burdened by their own losses. Together, they continue a journey that explores memory, identity, and the search for a place to belong.

Premiering in Montreal in 1997, Littoral has remained one of the defining works of contemporary French-language theatre. This production by Théâtre National de la Colline follows acclaimed performances at the 2024 Wuzhen Theatre Festival and the Beijing People's Art Theatre International Theatre Festival, and marks the show's first appearance in Shanghai.

The production combines theatrical and cinematic storytelling, using suspended scenery, projections, movable stage elements, and minimalist staging to shift between memory and reality.

Cast & Creatives

Wajdi Mouawad

Writer & Director

Lebanese-born playwright, director, actor, and screenwriter Wajdi Mouawad is one of the leading voices in contemporary French-language theatre. Having experienced exile during childhood, his work frequently explores identity, memory, homeland, and displacement. His plays have been translated into more than twenty languages and performed around the world.

Théâtre National de la Colline

One of France's national theatres, Théâtre National de la Colline has focused on contemporary theatre since its founding in 1988. Since Wajdi Mouawad became artistic director in 2016, the theatre has centred its work on new writing, diversity, young audiences, and community engagement.

Why It's Worth Seeing

Littoral returns to China after its acclaimed 2024 performances and makes its Shanghai debut in this production by Wajdi Mouawad and Théâtre National de la Colline. Combining an intimate personal story with inventive stage design and cinematic techniques, the play explores themes of memory, home, and rebuilding after conflict through the journey of one family.