A major actor of cultural democratisation since 1947, the Festival d’Avignon has spread its regional action well beyond the ramparts, following the principle that “it isn’t the neighbourhoods that need us, but us who need the neighbourhoods.” Since 2013, many projects have been conducted as part of the “3-kilometer decentralisation.” Among them are itinerant shows. The idea is simple: to offer plays with very little technical requirements, which can break the isolation of young audiences whose access to culture is limited. Every summer, between 10 and 15 structures—towns, social centres, companies…—from around Avignon now welcome this programme.
Amitié, Irène Bonnaud, Festival d'Avignon 2019 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Ahmed’s comeback, Didier Galas, Festival d'Avignon 2018 © Sharlie Evans
Ahmed's comeback, Didier Galas, Festival d'Avignon 2018 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Ahmed's comeback, Didier Galas, Festival d'Avignon 2018 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Childhood at work, Robin Renucci and Nicolas Stavy, Festival d'Avignon 2017 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Prometheus Bound, Olivier Py, Festival d'Avignon 2016 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Prometheus Bound, Olivier Py, Festival d'Avignon 2016 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Ubu, Olivier Martin-Salvan, Festival d'Avignon 2015 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Ubu, Olivier Martin-Salvan, Festival d'Avignon 2015 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Ubu, Olivier Martin-Salvan, Festival d'Avignon 2015 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Othello, variation for three actors, Nathalie Garraud and Olivier Saccomano, Festival d'Avignon 2014 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Othello, variation for three actors, Nathalie Garraud and Olivier Saccomano, Festival d'Avignon 2014 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
Ahmed’s comeback, Didier Galas, Festival d'Avignon 2018 © Sharlie Evans
Othello, variation for three actors, Nathalie Garraud and Olivier Saccomano, Festival d'Avignon 2014 © Christophe Raynaud de Lage
2018 – 72nd edition // Ahmed’s comeback - Didier Galas
In this philosophical farce, Ahmed, who never takes off his mask, returns to the stage. A worthy heir to Scapin, this character invented by Alain Badiou questions the habits of a world changed by information overload.
2017 – 71st edition // Childhood at work - Robin Renucci and Nicolas Stavy
Robin Renucci and Nicolas Stavy delve with music and through the body into the texts and lives of authors who, from childhood to adulthood, described how their artistic vocations first appeared.
2016 – 70th edition // Prometheus Bound - Olivier Py
For giving fire and the arts to mankind, Prometheus is the incarnation of disobedience. Fundamentally political, this play gives, according to Olivier Py, a “lesson in insurrection.”
2015 – 69th édition // Ubu - Olivier Martin-Salvan
Olivier Martin-Salvan went on a tour of Avignon with his adaptation of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu. In this play, the murders and wars caused by Father Ubu are transposed to the world of aerobics, where physical exertion becomes a way to dumb everyone down.
2014 – 68th édition // Othello, variation for three actors - Nathalie Garraud
Created for the Festival d’Avignon, this variation on Shakespeare’s masterpiece was a resounding success. Its aim? To question the political and ideological construct that is the figure of the foreigner in Europe, through a distant historical situation.
Here are the venues where itinerant shows have played:
Anselme Mathieu college, Avignon
La Garance social and cultural centre - Éclats de Scènes, Sérignan-du-Comtat
Camille Claudel cultural centre, Sorgues
Roger Orlando Hall, Caumont-sur-Durance
Folard cultural centre, Morières-lès-Avignon
La Rocade centre - La Barbière cultural centre, Avignon
BMW MINI - Foch Automobiles, Avignon
Courtyard of the Vacqueyras castle
La Cantarello community centre, Roquemaure
La Pastourelle community centre, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon
