Presented as part of the Avignon Off Festival, Special Partners is a creation by Manon Habets, directed by Ana Dandoy Arnoldi. This play immerses the spectator in the daily life of a brother and sister growing up in Belgium in the 2000s, where silences sometimes weigh more heavily than words.
An intimate story constructed like a psychological thriller
It all begins with Jul and his little brother Gab, inseparable during childhood. Then, as the years go by, something goes wrong. Everyday scenes take on a different hue, misunderstandings pile up, and a pervasive tension takes hold. The story gradually reveals the cracks in a seemingly ordinary family, leaving the viewer to piece together the puzzle.
Rather than confronting its subject head-on, the play favors suggestion. Glances, silences, and unspoken words convey as much as dialogue. Humor, tinged with Belgian absurdity, provides welcome respite at times before giving way to deeper emotion. A delicate way of addressing family trauma without ever resorting to sensationalism.
A highly acclaimed show that can be seen until July 25th
Special Partners It received the Best Creation award at the 2026 Jacques Awards, a prize awarded by the Cours Florent drama school, where the project was selected from nearly 200 creations presented this year. It was also nominated in several categories, including Best Author and Best Performance.
Beyond its plot, Special Partners It explores the role of silence in families and how certain secrets are passed down through generations. This play invites us to look at our closest relationships in a new light, reminding us that what is never spoken can sometimes leave deeper scars than words themselves.
The show can be seen at the Théâtre des Barriques in Avignon until July 25, 2026.
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