The Canal’s Supplicants (working title)

What is “Multitude”?

Multitude celebrates the diversity and interculturalism of Seine-Saint-Denis and its residents by showcasing everyone’s cultures through language, cuisine, urban sports, music, fashion, dance, and more… Conceived as a space for celebration, connection, and creativity, Multitude brings together artistic performances, participatory workshops, concerts, and moments of reflection: a rich and inclusive program driven by collectives, artists, and engaged residents.

And what about the Maison des Jonglages in all this?

La Maison des Jonglages, in partnership with the city of Bondy, the Bondy Conservatory, and La Compagnie ça fait du bien, has been selected by the Seine-Saint-Denis Department to serve as the Est Ensemble pavilion for the Multitude 2027 Biennial. This pavilion transforms the Ourcq Canal into an open-air stage. It brings together residents of Bondy, Bobigny, and Noisy-le-Sec for a major participatory production that blends theater, music, dance, juggling, cooking, and shared meals.

The artistic directors, Hakim Bah (writer and director) and Dimas Tivane (juggler, singer, dancer), will gather input from the participants. Together, they will write and direct the production. Throughout the season, they will lead workshops on writing, object manipulation, and set design, open to people of all ages.

A boat travels up the Ourcq Canal, from Bobigny to Bondy. On board are exiles who have left everything behind; on the banks, a people called upon to decide whether to welcome them. Between the two stands a king who refuses to decide alone. The procession moves forward in stages: a guardian suspended above the water, young people showing another side of the country, children recounting their legends, and an attack that must be repelled together. About a hundred participants, ranging in age from 11 to 80, combine juggling, singing, theater, and aerial acts for a journey that ends with a vote and a celebration. Loosely inspired by the The Suppliants by Aeschylus.