Last Monday, January 13, was a “very exceptional” day in the life of Sébastien M’Barek. “I received fourteen date proposals on the same day. It had never happened to me,” the author, director and actor of the Ballons Rouges troupe is still surprised; the same name as the theater that he created and runs with his wife Marie.
Now made up of ten members, including nine professionals, the troupe is currently performing five different humorous plays, all written by Sébastien M’Barek, a former plumber-electrician who changed his life a little over ten years ago. “Our visit to Avignon last summer, with “Retour vers la rupture”, allowed us to secure dates all over France, in Saint-Raphaël, Rennes, Saint-Étienne and Angers. There have been excellent results,” rejoices the Lamballais artist who plans to return to Vaucluse next July, with his creation “Promise it won’t come out of here”. “We already have 80 performances scheduled in 2025 with the different pieces. »
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2 In 2024, the hall welcomed 5,000 spectators
If writing, directing and performances have occupied a good part of Sébastien M’Barek’s time for three years, the small Lambalian café-theater of Ballons Rouges and its 84 seats still remains his stronghold. “A few months ago, we were offered to buy it to transform it into a pub, we did not follow up,” says the man who hired the services of a manager last year. “I am no longer essential. »
-In total, some 5,000 spectators passed through the doors of the only Costa Rican café-theater in 2024. “On average, we had 78 spectators for the shows offered”, specifies Sébastien M’Barek, whose formula does not change: a third of the The pieces performed are written and directed by him and performed by the Ballons Rouges troupe, another third of new works and a final third of shows already performed by Lamballe.
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3 Soon a first short film and a Christmas show
Two other important projects should also punctuate Sébastien M’Barek’s year. In September, the forty-year-old should shoot his first short film, on the theme of pregnancy denial. “I’m happy because it’s a great project that I’ve been working on for a long time. I learn by allowing myself to make mistakes,” explains this “demanding” worker who still “has to find a hospital hall to host the filming.” His other intention for 2025? Create a Christmas show for a family audience. “It will be a tale for adults which will be offered next November and December. »
