The show "Humans" at Monnot Theater, a scenic poem. Photo courtesy of the owner.
In a minimalist setting bathed in shifting lights and punctuated by holographic images, Humains unfolds like a visual poem. Swiss artist Narcisse, a multidisciplinary performer trained in music, shares the stage at Beirut’s Monnot Theater with musician Gaétan Lab, who moves between electric guitar and synthesizer to create an immersive, charged atmosphere.
A call for awareness
The piece is rooted in a central question: How can we understand a humanity capable of both the sublime and the horrific? Why are we the only species to create art, invent languages and send humans to the moon — while also engaging in violence, domination and forgetfulness?
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Faced with this paradox, Narcisse chooses to spotlight humanity’s creative force — its ability to generate meaning, forge connections and build common ground.
“We all know how to complain about what’s wrong in the world. Maybe I can better change it by highlighting what’s right,” Narcisse told L’Orient-Le Jour.
Over the course of 75 minutes, he weaves a vivid narrative of human history through its inventions, discoveries and cultural milestones. More than a performance, it plays like a living history lesson — one that reminds audiences that human genius can still astonish and inspire.
The idea for the show began taking shape during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I don’t know if it happened in Lebanon too, but in Switzerland, every evening people stood on their balconies, clapping and singing to support health care workers,” he recalled.
Moved by that collective moment, he wrote a poem titled Ils soignent and recorded it as a video. Broadcast on Swiss Radio Television and shared widely on social media, the video reached 1 million views overnight.
“I had never experienced anything like that,” he said. The unexpected reaction became a catalyst for what would eventually become Humains.
Sensory theater with a universal voice
Under the artistic direction of Jean-Philippe Daguerre, the stage becomes a canvas for sound, movement and projected imagery. A large screen at the back displays words, faces, quotes and historical fragments — evoking memory and consciousness.
Narcisse’s voice pulses at the center — at times delivered like a slam, other times like a whispered prayer. The minimalist staging underscores his physical presence and complements a non-linear performance style that mirrors the fragmented, multifaceted world he portrays.
Featuring 21 artists from diverse backgrounds, Humains celebrates a dialogue between cultures. A hip-hop dancer, ballerina, djembe player and opera singer each appear in turn, contributing to the show’s mosaic of expression.
Eager to move beyond traditional Eurocentric narratives, Narcisse consulted with experts and read more than 50 anthropological, historical and philosophical texts to shape the work. He recounts the story of humankind through slam poetry — not as a lone voice, but as part of a broader, global chorus.
“We’re all part of this creative humanity — all of us contribute to it,” he said. “I hope people leave this show thinking, ‘I’m part of it too.’”
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
