Catherine Frot in Beckett's 'Happy Days' at Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens

Catherine Frot stars as Winnie in Samuel Beckett's 'Happy Days' (Oh les beaux jours) at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens in Paris, directed by Marc Paquien. The production runs from September 23 to November 1, 2026, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 PM, Saturday matinees at 3:30 PM, and Sunday performances at 4 PM. The show lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, and ticket prices range from €14 to €56. In the play, Winnie is buried up to her waist in a mound of earth, and later up to her neck, yet she continues to apply makeup, chat, and greet the rising sun. This striking image, one of the most powerful in 20th-century theater, highlights the human capacity to celebrate life despite immobility and emptiness. Frot's portrayal, under Paquien's delicate direction, presents a moving humanity: despite the absurd and the looming erasure, her character clings to light and repeats, against all logic, that these are happy days. The production is staged at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris (75002).