“A Frenchman Like Any Other” or Blue Plus Blue Equals 4

Created in 2024, this play highlights the journey of Mohamed, born in Marseille and French by origin, who then became Algerian before regaining his French nationality. Through characters drawn from everyday life, such as street vendors and ragpickers, the audience is invited to relive significant moments in the history of exile, particularly the Algerian War, prompting questions about identity and belonging. Le Pied Nu , a company founded in 1983, works to promote theatre, storytelling, music and singing, with particular attention to cultures from elsewhere. Through this play, the troupe continues its mission by offering a deeply human and diverse performance. ******************************************** Association created by Mohamed Adi in 1983, with the aim of introducing audiences to the arts and practices of theatre, music, singing, storytelling and cinema through cultures from elsewhere. Since its creation, Le Pied Nu has initiated numerous events and activities for audiences that are both varied and numerous. It goes out to meet its audiences in their own places: schools, neighbourhoods, prisons, libraries, migrant shelters, social centres, reception centres, places of connection and places of exclusion. There it offers targeted, varied and rich activities promoting mutual understanding. At the same time, “Le Pied Nu” also produces its own creations: theatre, dance, music, shadow theatre and storytelling performances. These creations give professionals the opportunity to express themselves. The endless search for identity, the quest for immortality, the concern with reproducing oneself, the search for roots—in tears, derision, dreams and humour—are the main themes of “Le Pied Nu”’s performances. “Le Pied Nu” has carried out its activities and presented its performances throughout France and Europe (Belgium, Italy, Spain), in Martinique (Atrium theatre, national stage, Storytelling Festival), as well as in Algeria (Racontar Festival), Morocco (La Cigogne Volubile de Meknès Festival), Burkina Faso (Yeleen), Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire (Le Massa Festival), Guinea Conakry (Kini Africa), Togo (Talent) and Senegal. For more than 40 years, it has organised popular events (Les Belsunciades, La Caravane du Sud), whose main aim is to share and promote the cultures of the populations of the Marseille metropolitan area. As part of these events, it presents stories (“Diable de Bouillabaisse”, “Les Trois Précieux”...), which provide opportunities for exchange. Text by: Mohamed ADI and René ESCUDIE With: Mohamed ADI and Doudou Collaboration: Danielle STEFAN and Jacques GERMAIN – Costumes: Virginie BREGER Props: Grégoire LANGE and Christian – Lighting: Manon DEPLAIX Through A Frenchman Like Any Other, Mohamed Adi shares a sensitive and striking perspective on Marseille, its neighbourhoods and its blended identities. This vibrant, funny and moving one-person show combines French, Arabic and Provençal to tell the story of an immigrant’s child, caught between two cultures and united by the same love for his city. Presented at the 2025 Avignon Festival, the show impressed audiences with its sincerity and depth: Philippe Amsellem, La Marseillaise “50% French, 50% Algerian, 100% Marseillais.” Michèle Perin, Culture Off Avignon “An ode to multiple identities and the beauty of cultural mixing.” Culture’actu La Provence “Mohamed Adi unfolds the film of his life before attentive, captivated spectators.”