" (...) everything’s tricky when you become a teen,
You need money, and I’m stuck between two hot lamps.
Everything’s faster now, and I got problems at school,
Not ‘cause I’m dumb, but ‘cause I need the cash.
France is a place where the ambitious die,
My teacher said, “You’re an Arab who’ll never make it.”
So I smoke, so I drink,
I hang out in the hall, my mama’s worried.
Fuck school! Alcohol and weed!
I waste time and get drunk at the local motel."

— Taken from Allo Maman bobo by L’algérino

The words to the song, “Allo Maman Bobo” by Algérino, a Marseilles-based rapper, sums up part of Heddy’s life: a young, 20-year-old born in the rough, northern neighbourhoods of Marseilles. The initial stages of this portrait, presented here as an early phase in the project, was the result of a desire to explore this encounter more deeply. It offers an opportunity to explore Heddy’s relationship to his roots, to the Japanese manga, Dragon Ball Z – which has become a very important part of his life – to boxing – which he started at age 15 – to the army – which he had to leave – and to theatre – which he has only recently discovered.

— Mickaël Phelippeau

Work phase presented 8 - 14 July 2017
Théâtre de la Parenthèse – Festival d’Avignon OFF, as part of Belle Seine Saint-Denis, a programme curated by Théâtre Gérard Philippe – CDN – Saint Denis and Théâtre Louis Aragon in Tremblay-en-France, in partnership with the Departmental Council of Seine-Saint-Denis.