February 2025

The Way of the World

There was the author-explorer Ella Maillart, who opened a first route. Then there was Nicolas Bouvier, who continued the adventure and in 1963, published L’Usage du Monde, the story of his journey through Eastern Europe and Central Asia, illustrated by Thierry Vernet, whom he joined along the way. Armed with a car (a Fiat 500 Topolino!), some small savings, and a typewriter, they set out to meet other peoples as well as themselves. Catherine Schaub directs this invitation to uprootedness, to the dazzle of difference, and to friendship, achieving the feat of bringing to life on a theatre stage, thanks to a superb performance by Samuel Labarthe, a vast and luminous inner journey. Following its success in 2023 at Théâtre de Carouge, enjoy another opportunity to share this magnificent adventure!

By Nicolas Bouvier
Directed by Catherine Schaub
Based on an original idea by Samuel Labarthe

From 4 February
To 23 February 2025

Duration 1h15
Small Stage
From 12 years old

Schedules
Tuesday – Friday 8 pm
Saturday – Sunday 5.30 pm

Subtitles in english and french on 8 February 2025

Tickets ▶︎

Distribution et Credits

With Samuel Labarthe
From Nicolas Bouvier
Adaptation Anne Rotenberg, Gérald Stehr and Samuel Labarthe
Directed by Catherine Schaub
Scenography Delphine Brouard
Lights Thierry Morin
Video Mathias Delfau
Video assistant Allan Hove
Video adaptation Zita Cochet
Sound design Aldo Gilbert
Voice off Thierry Vernet Alexandre Labarthe

Technique team of Theatre de Carouge
Stage management William Fournier
Sound, lights and video management Ian Durrer
Costumes care Cécile Vercaemer-Ingles
Installation Adrien Granjean (techniscenist apprentice), Baptiste Novello (techniscenist apprentice), Eusébio Paduret, Gautier Janin, Salomé Schweizer (techniscenist intern)
And all the technique team from Théâtre de Carouge

Coproductions 42 Production, Théâtre de Carouge
Corealisation Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasse Paris
Support of Ville de Genève
The show is supported by Adami déclencheur
Greetings to la Bibliothèque de Genève and to Madame Barbara Prout, archivist for documents and sound archives ; Madame Pascale Pahud, documentalist and in charge off Fonds Nicolas Bouvier, Photo Elysée in Lausanne ; the rightful owners of Nicolas Bouvier, Sirs Thomas et Manuel Bouvier, president of Comité de la Société de Lecture de Genève ; he rightful owners of Thierry Vernet et Floristella Stephani ; Madame Delphine de Candolle, cultural director of Société de Lecture de Genève.
Photos credits © Succession Nicolas Bouvier and Photo Elysée, Lausanne

Created on 5 January 2023 at Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasse in Paris

Subtitles

On February 8, the Theatre offers a performance with subtitles in French and English.

Subtitles are available on tablets on loan free of charge.

They’re very easy to use, and you can read the surtitles from any seat in the theater.

How to reserve a tablet:

> Reserve your seat for a performance with surtitles.
> When you make your reservation, tell the box office that you need a tablet.
By e-mail: billetterie@theatredecarouge.ch
By phone: +41 22 343 43 43
On site: Rue Ancienne 37 A, Carouge
Tuesday to Friday 12h-18h
Saturday 10h14h
> 30 minutes before the show, ask for the tablet at the reception desk, in exchange for your ID.
> After the show, return the tablet to reception and collect your ID

By Nicolas Bouvier
Directed by Catherine Schaub
Based on an original idea by Samuel Labarthe

From 4 February
To 23 February 2025

Duration 1h15
Small Stage
From 12 years old

Schedules
Tuesday – Friday 8 pm
Saturday – Sunday 5.30 pm

Subtitles in english and french on 8 February 2025

Tickets ▶︎