Overview: A one-man show that leans into doubt
In November 2024, the Théâtre Boulimie in Lausanne hosted Julien Doquin de Saint Preux in a fresh one-man piece titled “Tergiversations d’un homme au ventre vide” (Hesitations of a Man with an Empty Belly). The show began as a collection of short text fragments the comedian planned for Comedy Clubs, but gradually evolved into a cohesive solo performance that centers on one surprisingly universal theme: doubt. The production, directed by Frédéric Recrosio, transforms a simple premise into a thought-provoking mix of humor and melancholy that resonates beyond its French roots.
Themes: Doubt as a daily companion
The central idea is deceptively ordinary: every day presents a volley of choices. What should I eat? What should I do with my life? How do I love? What is it that we truly want at forty? The show inventories these questions with wit while never losing sight of the deeper emotional pull behind them. It turns the routine of decision-making into a gentle meditation on what it means to be human in a world of endless options.
Autobiographical underpinnings and universality
The piece is steeped in the comedian’s lived experience, and yet its appeal is universal. Doquin de Saint Preux acknowledges that parts of the show are drawn from his own life—particularly a significant personal question that arose in his private life about whether to have a child. He explains to interviewers that this tension was a catalyst, helping him and the director, Frédéric Recrosio, to shape material that feels both personal and broadly relatable. The result is a performance that invites audiences to reflect on their own crossroads while laughing at the quirkiness of daily indecision.
Digressions as a dramaturgical engine
A standout strength of the show is its capacity for digression. Doquin de Saint Preux describes a writer’s “digression-friendly” approach: when a thread loosens, a single word can trigger a new anecdote, which then spirals into another tangent. This fluid movement keeps the hour-long piece lively, avoiding the stiffness that sometimes plagues monologues. It’s a deliberate choice that mirrors real conversations, where a tangent can illuminate a choice we never knew we needed to consider.
From radio to stage: The craft of writing for live theatre
In discussing his craft, the performer notes that while the mechanics of writing jokes for radio and for the stage share rhythms, the intent differs. Radio comedy often aligns with current events and topical resonance, whereas a stage show demands honesty rooted in lived experience. The transition from fragmentary texts to a fully realized performance required both vulnerability and a willingness to let the material breathe on stage, a balance that Recrosio helped him achieve through dramaturgical collaboration.
Touring and future dates: Suisse Romande updates
After its Lausanne debut, “Tergiversations d’un homme au ventre vide” is set to return to Suisse Romande with performances beginning on 4 October 2025 and continuing into 2026. The production will be staged for multiple dates, inviting new audiences to join in the examination of doubt, choice, and human connection. The piece remains anchored in its autobiographical core while inviting fresh interpretations from diverse audiences across the region.
About the creative team
Beyond Doquin de Saint Preux’s turn on stage, Frédéric Recrosio’s direction helps shape a show that feels intimate yet expansive, capable of slipping from hilarity to poignancy in a heartbeat. The collaboration between writer-performer and director emphasizes the importance of truth on stage and the beauty of a digressive, human conversation that keeps an audience engaged from first line to last.
