Fernand Iveton, "De nos frères blessés" (Of Our Wounded Brothers) - Call for support for a memorial play (AAJLE / SATORI Collective)

This year marks the centenary of the birth of Fernand Iveton. On February 11, 2027, it will be seventy years since he was guillotined “as an example” in the Algiers prison, then called Barberousse. To pass on his story to new generations, our association is teaming up with the Collectif SATORI. Together, we want to present the play “De nos frères blessés” (Our Wounded Brothers). We need you.

From Jean-Luc Einaudi’s book to the stage

One of Jean-Luc Einaudi’s first books was “Pour l'exemple, l'affaire Fernand Iveton, enquête” (For the sake of example, the Fernand Iveton affair, an investigation). In it, he retraced the destiny of this worker of European origin, born in Algiers on June 12, 1926, who saw himself as an Algerian committed to the struggle for independence. Fernand Iveton was guillotined on February 11, 1957, following a failed bombing attempt that caused no criminal harm.

This book inspired Joseph Andras’s novel “De nos frères blessés” (2016 Goncourt Prize for a first novel). Director Fabrice Henry created a theatrical version of it with the Collectif SATORI. Several members of our association have seen this production. They appreciated it for its faithfulness and its accuracy.

A show that has already traveled

Fabrice Henry explains it in the video: it was primarily the language of Joseph Andras that drew him into the violence of this history, which is “very poorly or very rarely taught in France.” He chose a narrative theater style, faithful to the text, rather than a realistic interpretation.

The show was created at the Théâtre des Déchargeurs in Paris. It then toured in France, notably at the Algerian Cultural Center and the Rivesaltes Memorial. It was also performed at the five French Institutes in Algeria during the Hirak, and then at the Béjaïa International Theater Festival.

Our project

We want to have the play performed:

• in Paris and the Île-de-France region;
• in Marseille, where part of the Collectif SATORI team lives and where our association is also active;
• during the week of February 11, 2027, in memory of Fernand Iveton’s execution.

Other cities and other regions are welcome. The project will be adapted to the resources raised.

For a technically stripped-down version, the artistic team has estimated the cost of an initial performance at approximately €3,900. The more dates are grouped together, the lower the cost of each performance will be.

Become co-producers of this work of remembrance

We are appealing to you: individuals, citizens, associations, municipalities, and elected officials in charge of remembrance. This artistic project serves the history of the 20th century, a colonial history whose consequences we still measure today.

• Make a donation, from the most modest to the most generous: via HelloAsso or by bank transfer (bank details available on this site).
• Write to us for any proposals from associations, institutions, theaters, or municipalities: jleinaudi.amis@gmail.com

Do not forget to leave us your email address so that we can register your donation and keep you informed of the project’s progress.

👉 Support the project (HelloAsso or transfer): https://www.jean-luc-einaudi.fr
✉️ Contact: jleinaudi.amis@gmail.com

 

“She found the strength to survive”

During the summer of 1984, Jean-Luc Einaudi visited Fernand Iveton’s grave at the Bologhine cemetery (formerly Saint-Eugène) in Algiers. He was accompanied by Fernand’s widow, Hélène Iveton. He wrote:

“Beyond the long, sleepless nights, the exhaustion after days of work, the Saint-Fernand days, and the 11th of February, she found the strength to survive. Despite the terrible pain, despite the loneliness to which she was abandoned. She survived, no doubt, thanks to the character that made Fernand love her.”

 

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:08 Presentation — Patrick Karl, Friends of Jean-Luc Einaudi
0:46 The play “De nos frères blessés”
1:37 “Pour l'exemple, l'affaire Fernand Iveton,” by Jean-Luc Einaudi
2:40 Fabrice Henry: the genesis of the show
3:53 The creation and the tour, in France and Algeria
4:56 The call for support
5:54 The budget for a performance
6:21 Paris, Marseille, February 11, 2027
7:21 How to support us
8:32 At the Bologhine cemetery (Saint-Eugène), Algiers
9:18 Credits

Credits
Direction: Farid Zerzour — Théâtre du KALAM (Colombes)
With: Fabrice Henry and the Collectif SATORI; Patrick Karl for the Association of Friends of Jean-Luc Einaudi
Images of the Algiers cemetery: © Samia Arhab (April 2026)
Editing: Fabrizio de Gennaro