Theater in Avignon, less the heat and the crush of July?
This is the promise of the first edition of Printemps du Off, which will give a preview on Saturday of around twenty shows expected this summer at the “off” festival.
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The initiative, described as a "militant act", is carried out by 14 permanent theaters of the City of the Popes, members of the Federation of Independent Theaters of Avignon (FTIA), which host shows during the year then played during the festival.
"90% of the shows scheduled in the Printemps du Off are shows that will be played this summer in our halls
," said Harold David, co-president of the FTIA, to AFP.
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Out of season
Through these previews, until May 14, it is a question of allowing the inhabitants of Avignon but also professionals, press and broadcasters in particular, privileged access to 25 shows which, in July, will find themselves drowned in the middle of some 1,500 proposals included in the Festival off program before 2020
. 'year"
, emphasizes Harold David.
The
“off season”
is also a better time to reach specific audiences, especially schoolchildren, who will be able to enjoy shows for young audiences, or people who are far from culture.
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"For us, the Federation of theatres, setting up this event is a way of both developing audiences and the professional visibility of the companies that we will be hosting during the festival"
, sums up Harold David.
"Far from the hustle and bustle and summer heat"
, as the program promises, which recalls that
"spring, in Vaucluse, is mild and peaceful"
, spectators will be able to attend a reading by Judith Magre of texts by Marguerite Duras and Yann Andréa, a tribute to Simone Veil by the actress Fabienne Babe, or even a one woman show by Clémence Baron.
In addition to classical and contemporary plays, musical theatre, young audiences, in English and Italian, as well as a writing workshop will be on display.
« L'éclectisme il est inévitable puisque c'est l'ADN du Off d'être dans cette diversité»
, le festival, qui se tiendra cette année du 7 au 30 juillet, étant
«la mutualisation de la programmation de plus de 138 théâtres “
, recalls Harold David, who has just been elected, with Laurent Domingos, co-president of the association which coordinates the Off (AF&C for
Avignon Festival and Companies
).
