Events

The French Institute of Romania, the International Francophonie Organization and the Bucharest National Theatre presents the show Maintenant ou Jamel.

Author and actor: Jamel Debbouze

Production: JMD / Slievan Harkin, MIALA / Pierre de Lorme 

General director: Sylvain Rénier 

Start Time: 19.30

Show in French

Jamel Debbouze returns on stage with Maintenant ou Jamel for a one-man show that shall not leave you indifferent! As part of an international tour, Debbouze joins us as a guest ambassador to celebrate the Francophonie Day.

Words of wit and humourshall leave behind the prejudices and fears in a show favouring the joy of transmitting francophone values, such as diversity, solidarity, freedom.

The humorous and fine observer of everyday French society, Jamel Debbouze, tackles, without half-measures, personal and international issues. In a performance with highlights of calibrated impertinence and assumed humour, Jamel Debbouze deconstructs power games and critically treats the nuances of racism. The humorist sets new ground with the audience, carrying it naturally through a variety of themes: the relationship with the father, the education of his children seen through his own childhood, the school psychology, or the "Marrakech du rire" Festival, a true showcase for promoting young people everywhere. These are the axes that Jamel Debbouze explores in a spirit of solid humanism fueled by freedom of thought and expression.

"Maintenant ou Jamel" - an unparalleled show, consumed at any age, in the form of a theatrical introspection exercise.

Institutional partners: the Lebanese Embassy, ​​GADIF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Francophone University Agency. Main Partner: Lee Cooper. Partners: Total, Bloom Bank. With the support of Novotel, Tarom. Media partners: Pro TV, RFI Romania, TV5 Monde

Presentation Jamel Debbouze

Actor, humourist and producer, Jamel Debbouze is a multifaceted artist.

The first born in a Moroccan family with six children, Jamel Debbouze grew up in the Parisian suburb of Trappes. The meeting who introduced him to the showbiz world takes place in high school years, where, reputed for the oratory talent and voluptuous personality, he encounters Alain Degois, called "Papy", educator and director of "Déclic Théâtre", the "Cité des Merisiers" theatre company in Trappes. Jamel is making his debut on stage, ranking among the finalists of the junior section of the French Improvisation Championship.

In 1995, he took the first steps towards a radio career, being the animator of chronicles about the daily newspaper. Soon, he also debuts on television on Paris Première, then joins Nulle Part Ailleurs and becomes the new image of Canal + TV.

Seduced by the cinema, the first two roles in the films "The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain" (R. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001) - where he impersonates Lucien and "Asterix and Obelix - Mission: Cleopatra" (R. Alain Chabat , 2002), where he plays the role of Numérobis, propels him to the attention of the general public and critics, establishing him among the most popular actors.

Jamel Debbouze changes the register with each role, alternating between author and popular productions, starring for directors Spike Lee and Luc Besson. Also starring in the "Days of Glory" film, which brings him the Best Actor Award at the 59th Cannes Film Festival in 2006. In 2015, Jamel Debbouze goes behind the cameras, signing the direction of the film "Pourquoi J'ai Pas Mangé Mon Père", the film being made entirely by capturing movement - a European premiere in itself.

The special interest in transmitting passion for the stage, coupled with the attachment to collaborating with and promoting young talents, prompts him in 2008 to create the Comedy Club structure, a Paris show hall that receives and supports young artists from all social backgrounds.

Tireless promoter of the young talents, producers and filmmakers of tomorrow, Jamel Debbouze supports them through the Comedy Club, accompanying them especially on financial and material issues. A telling example is the "Talents en Court" operation in the field of short films. As president of the Les Ami(e)s Comedy Club Association, Jamel Debbouze launched this project in 2003, in partnership with the France Télévisions Foundation and the CNC. Thus, collaborations with various social and institutional partners allowed him to discover many artists, interacting with people of all cultural horizons.

Jamel Debbouze engages frequently, with discretion, but with all his heart, in charity projects, and collaborates with various associations working in areas such as education, childhood, family and health. In addition, in partnership with Secours Populaire and Secours Islamique, he launched a fundraising campaign under the "An Aircraft for Gaza" operation to send humanitarian aid to civilian victims of the 2008-2009 conflict.

Another topic that particularly sensitizes him is the theme of precarious housing. It is not surprising, therefore, that we also discover Jamel Debbouze as a godfather of the Abbe Pierre Foundation, whose actions he supports with his wife, Mélissa Theuriau, journalist and producer. The Abbé Road Concert in October 2015, an awareness campaign on the issue of precarious housing in November 2016, or the participation in the production of an M6 broadcast at a moment of maximum audience, commemorating 10 years since Abbé Pierre's disappearance in 2017, are some examples illustrating the solidary humanism that defines Jamel Debbouze.

Last but not least, Jamel Debbouze works in Morocco, where he created the Marrakech du Rire International Festival. Already at its eighth edition, the Marrakech du Rire attracts an ever-increasing audience, reuniting the trendiest humourists. A special moment in each edition of the Festival is the organization of a charity football match - Le Charity Football Game. It takes place at the Marrakech Stadium with the participation of professional soccer players, as well as artists from all disciplines, and the proceeds are donated to Casablanca's L'Heure Joyeuse (Time of Joy), which has been supporting since 1954 disadvantaged people.

Motivated by the roaring success of the Festival and enriched by the experience of the related actions in which he was involved, Jamel Debbouze currently carries out a number of new artistic projects and concepts, especially in Africa, but also in France.

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu