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Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles

Portrait de Rita

Laurène Marx
Bwanga Pilipili

03 > 21.03.2026
Theatre • fr • 1hr30 → Salle Jacques Huisman

In September 2023, Mathis, a 9-year-old schoolboy near Charleroi, was subjected to racist insults from his classmates. In reaction, he flew into what the school considered an uncontrollable rage, prompting them to call the police. Upon arrival, his mother Rita discovered her son pinned to the ground by a police officer.

From this act of racist violence, writer and director Laurène Marx—specialist in solo performance—and actress, writer, and director Bwanga Pilipili chose to tell the story through the journey of the mother, Rita, a Cameroonian businesswoman who became a housekeeper. How does the white gaze contribute to a reductive and objectifying view of women? The writer questions an identity path that is not her own by exploring the zones of ambiguity and projection.

The uniqueness of the performance lies in the convergence of three perspectives: that of a mother at the heart of the story; that of an actress, both observer and victim of ethno-racial discrimination; and that of a white trans writer, offering her own reflections on whiteness. Three intersecting viewpoints, united by a shared experience of fetishization and dehumanization. Based on interviews with Rita Nkat Bayang, Laurène Marx and Bwanga Pilipili expose systemic racism that suffocates a woman at work just as it pins her son to the ground.

Coproduction Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles

Calendar

  • - 20:00
  • - 15:00

    Daytime performance

  • - 20:00

    Introduction · 19:30

  • - 20:00
  • - 18:00
  • - 14:00

    Daytime performance

  • - 19:00

    Discussion after show

  • - 20:00

    Introduction · 19:30

  • - 20:00
  • - 18:00
  • - 14:00

    Daytime performance

  • - 19:00
  • - 20:00

    Introduction · 19:30

  • - 20:00
  • - 18:00

Information

Venue

Salle Jacques Huisman

Duration

1hr30

Language

fr

Price

10€ > 24€

Cast

Text
Laurène Marx
based on interviews with
Rita Nkat Bayang
conducted by
Laurène Marx and Bwanga Pilipili

Directed by
Laurène Marx

With
Bwanga Pilipili

Lighting design
Kelig Le Bars

Music creation
Maïa Xuân
May Blondeau

Assistant director
Jessica Guilloud

Production
Cie Hande Kader / Bureau des Filles

Coproduction
Théâtre Ouvert – National Center for Contemporary Dramaturgies, Les Quinconces-L’Espal – national stage of Le Mans, Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Collectif FAIR-E – CCN of Rennes, Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles, Théâtre National de Strasbourg, Festival d'Automne in Paris

Residencies hosted by
Théâtre Ouvert – National Center for Contemporary Dramaturgies, Les Quinconces-L’Espal – national stage of Le Mans, Collectif FAIR-E – CCN of Rennes, Mars-Mons, performing arts

Production director
Véronique Felenbok

Production manager
Aliénor Suet

Touring and distribution
Chloé Cassaing

Néhémie Lemal, Laurène Marx, Rita Nkatbanyang
Annual closure of the box office 05.07 > 24.08.2025 Online reservations remain open 24/7
Yvan Guerdon · Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles