There are those plays that go straight to our hearts, through their staging, the themes they evoke, or the messages they convey. And there are those plays that move us by expertly combining these three elements with unparalleled virtuosity. Undoubtedly, the show Alexei and Yulia (Navalny My Love) is one of them. This new creation by Sabrina Kouroughli and Gaëtan Vassart, performed on the stage of the Théâtre de Belleville from March 4 to March 28, 2026, stands out as a gripping chamber piece, where love becomes political, and where hope and courage unite.
©Cie La Ronde de Nuit
A love story set against a backdrop of political struggle
Alexei and Yulia Navalny are in Berlin. Tomorrow, they should head back to Moscow, at least that’s what Alexei hopes. However, the opponent of Vladimir Putin's government has just spent 18 days in a coma after being poisoned with Novichok. Yulia, his partner, is trying to convince him that it’s not a good idea, that the danger is too great. A challenging choice presents itself to the couple: face the danger head-on, or resist in exile.
©Cie La Ronde de Nuit
Inspired by true events, including the prison diary written by Alexeï Navalny — from which correspondence with Yulia was confiscated by the regime — this performance imagines the last night of a couple, before their lives are turned completely upside down. On stage, Sabrina Kouroughli and Gaëtan Vassart — who wrote, directed, and perform the text — embody these two resistors whose only weapons are their love and firm convictions against a regime determined to bring them down.
A performance more relevant than ever
Love, humor, hope, tragedy… This text is as current as it gets — Alexeï.Navalny was poisoned in 2020, and he passed away in February 2024 — this play aims to be a tribute to two committed and combative personalities, as well as a way to raise awareness of a grim reality where resistance is oppressed, attempts to enforce silence are welcomed, and government through fear is promoted. A gripping and moving piece that we warmly invite you to discover at the Théâtre de Belleville next March!
Alexeï and Yulia (Navalny my love)
Théâtre de Belleville
16, passage Piver — 20e
From March 4 to 28, 2026
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