They are now between 19 and 25 years old, have obtained their papers as political refugees, most are enrolled in university, some have a side job.

They comply with the exercise of the interview with an interpreter in order to be able to speak their native language, Dari, but their smiles, their nods, sometimes mischievous looks, let us understand that they often understood the question before its translation.

Freshta, Shegofa, Atifa, Hussnia... They are nine, discovered amateur theater as teenagers under the guidance of a young local director, Naim Karimi, also in exile.

In their show, "The lost dream", created with the New Generation Theater (TNG) in Lyon, they evoke with their words the happy memories then "the tears" when the Taliban returned in August 2021.

They express their nostalgia for their country, they speak of exile, far from those, and especially those, who suffer "a tyranny inflicted by obscurantism", they affirm their hope of one day rebuilding a society that lives up to their dreams.

"Dear country, don't you feel lonely without your children who are gone?", says one of them in the room in Dari, surtitled in French.

Before leaving, "we were very afraid, but not in relation to living in France, but rather for our country", explains Atifa Azizpor to AFP.

Young Afghan actresses during a rehearsal of their play "Le Rêve Perdu", created with the New Generation Theater (TNG, November 22, 2022 in Lyon JEFF PACHOUD AFP

It is while embarking for France, in extremely difficult conditions, that the rupture arises: "I am too young for this trip", says one of the actresses on stage.

"One way ticket"

They left thanks to a solidarity network launched by the Afghan artist Kubra Khademi, to help artists in his country.

Joris Mathieu, the director of the TNG participates in the initiative from July 2021, a month before the departure of American troops and the return of the Taliban.

Young Afghan actresses during a rehearsal of their play "Le Rêve Perdu", created with the New Generation Theater (TNG, November 22, 2022 in Lyon JEFF PACHOUD AFP

But the "letters of invitation" turn into "trip" and "hypothetically a one-way ticket".

"We discovered very quickly that our role was first and foremost a work of hospitality and integration assistance by strengthening French lessons", relates the man who welcomed the troupe in connection with the TNP of Villeurbanne, at the gates of Lyon.

A first year to "take care", he says, to "allow them to live a little better" and "think calmly about the future".

Then, in a second step, give them the floor, "create here the conditions that allow them to transmit a message".

"We didn't know exactly what we were going to do here", but meeting theater professionals, "everything changed for us": "we started to learn French and observe how we practice the boards in France" , explains Freshta Akbari, one of the actresses.

Young Afghan actresses during a rehearsal of their play "Le Rêve Perdu", created with the New Generation Theater (TNG, November 22, 2022 in Lyon JEFF PACHOUD AFP

"We want to show the beauty of our country's history and culture, and to be the voice of women who can no longer work and be present in society," she continues.

All keep the ardent hope of returning one day to Afghanistan.

"We are the generation that was forced to leave the country, but we have a responsibility" vis-à-vis those who remained, underlines Atifa Azizpor.

Director Naim Karimi links the "progress" of his country, before the return of the Taliban, to "immigrants who left Afghanistan, learned things in different countries and returned home".

A voice proclaims it in his room: "Our dream is not lost".

Young Afghan actresses during a rehearsal of their play "Le Rêve Perdu", created with the New Generation Theater (TNG, November 22, 2022 in Lyon JEFF PACHOUD AFP

The initiator of the solidarity movement, Kubra Khademi, 33, presents a performance entitled "Golden horizon" in Lyon.

She took refuge in France in 2015 after a performance in Kabul on the status of women and her solitary exile was painful: "if I had not been an artist, I would not have been integrated".

© 2022 AFP