Thomas Gourdy's 'Force Bleus' Confronts Police Violence Through Family History at Théâtre de Belleville

Thomas Gourdy's theatrical production 'Force Bleus' runs at Paris's Théâtre de Belleville through April 30, 2026. The performance examines police violence through Gourdy's personal family history as the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Paris police officers. His father was implicated in the 1986 killing of 22-year-old student Malik Oussekine, an event that occurred during protests against the Devaquet university reform law. Gourdy discovered this connection later in life. The production juxtaposes Oussekine's death with more recent police violence cases, including that of Nahel Merzouk, questioning institutional justifications and power dynamics. Gourdy leads the company La bande passante, where he began developing this work through archival research at the Paris police headquarters. His earlier 2022 production 'Devenir' explored adolescent narratives. 'Force Bleus' merges two artistic approaches: composer Alexandre du Closel's musical and hauntological contributions with Gourdy's documentary narrative style. The work investigates how public institutions intersect with private lives, using performance to stage reality. Photographer Gilles Kayser documented the production. RFI published coverage on April 21, 2026.