After 1,200 Shows in Paris, “La Machine de Turing” Lands in Beirut
Beirut’s theater scene is welcoming an award-winning French production! After more than 1,200 performances in Paris and four Molière Awards, La Machine de Turing is finally coming to Le Monnot Theater in Achrafieh. Written by and starring Benoît Solès, and directed by Tristan Petitgirard, the acclaimed play will run on February 26, 27, and 28, 2026, at 8:30 PM.
What’s the play about?
The play tells the extraordinary story of Alan Turing, the English mathematician who cracked the German Enigma code during World War II. Turing built a machine capable of logical reasoning, considered the foundation of modern computing. Yet despite his groundbreaking work, he was prosecuted for homosexuality and later took his own life by biting into a poisoned apple, strangely reminiscent of a famous logo.
From Paris to Beirut
Created in 2018, La Machine de Turing quickly became one of France’s biggest theatrical successes. It earned four Molière Awards, including Best Playwright and Best Actor for Solès, and Best Director for Petitgirard. The production has toured extensively and continues to draw audiences across Europe.
The brilliant minds behind it
The play was written by and stars Benoît Solès, a French actor and playwright born in 1972 in Agen. After training under Jean Darnel, he built a career across theater, television, and film before turning to writing. He previously wrote Call Me Tennessee, but La Machine de Turing, created in 2018, became his breakthrough. In 2019, he won the Molière Awards for both Best Playwright and Best Actor for the same production, a rare distinction that cemented his place in contemporary French theater.
The production is directed by Tristan Petitgirard, an award-winning French actor, playwright, screenwriter, and director born in 1976. Trained at Cours Florent and under Jean-Laurent Cochet, Petitgirard began as an actor before writing his first play, Révélation, in 2004. He later achieved major success with Rupture à domicile, staged in France and internationally. In 2019, he received the Molière Award for Best Director for La Machine de Turing. He is also the creator of the TV series Origines and continues to work across theater, television, and writing.
Event Details
📍 Location
Le Monnot Theater, Achrafieh
Click here for the exact location.
📅 Dates
February 26, 27 & 28, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The play will be performed in French, as originally written. Tickets are available via Antoine Ticketing or at the theater’s box office.
