AVIGNON FESTIVAL OF THEÂTRE 2008
The Avignon Festival is France's oldest existing and most famous, founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar.
Jean Vilar was invited to present one of his productions - Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot, that had already won acclaim in Paris - at the same time as a modern painting exhibition in the Palais des Papes (the Popes' Palace), organised by art critic and collector, Christian Zervos, and by the poet, René Char.
Used to working on a small stage, Vilar initially refused the offer because he felt the Cour d'Honneur in the Popes' Palace was too vast, and "shapeless". Instead, he suggested putting on three other plays as new productions - Shakespeare's Richard II, one of the Bard's plays that was little known at the time in France; Paul Claudel's Tobie et Sara, and Maurice Clavel's second play, La Terrasse de Midi (The Midday Terrace). The very first Avignon Festival in September 1947 set the scene as a showcase for unknown work and modern scripts.
There are three distinct stages in the evolution of the Avignon Festival.
1947 - 1963 : For 17 years, the Festival reflected the work of one man, one team, one location and thus was the embodiment of one spirit. Jean Vilar's aim was to attract a young audience, a captivated and fresh audience, through a type of theatre that was different from what could be seen in Paris at that time.
He wanted to "renew theatre and collective forms of art by providing a more open space (...) to give a breath of fresh air to an art form that's stifling in waiting rooms, in cellars, in salons; to reconcile architecture with dramatic poetry."Jean Vilar developed an attachment to the troup of actors who performed every July before a growing and devoted audience. Gérard Philippe - already a well-known screen actor by that time - became the festival symbol after playing title roles in Corneille's Le Cid and Kleist's Prince de Hombourg. The theatre was given a new lease of life thanks to the work of directors sent by the state on missions to places then considered as cultural deserts. The Avignon Festival had become not only a rendez-vous for these stage pionniers, but also the cultural event of the summer in France.
Many associations, youth movements, work councils and secular friendship groups were approached. Thousands of young people descended on the city, sleeping in camp-sites, in guesthouses; schools were opened to offer them accommodation. The Urban Vth Orchard became a venue for debates, meetings and readings. Thirteen countries took part in the first International Youth Encounters organised by CEMEA (Centre d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Education Active) and by the CEAI (Centre d'Echange Artistiques Internationaux).
The administration and the troup set up in Paris presented memorable performances of Lorenzaccio, Dom Juan, Le Mariage de Figaro, Murder in the Catherdral, Les Caprices de Marianne, Mother Courage and La Guerre de Troie n'aura pas Lieu.
And every summer, at the Palais des Papes, a cultural ritual, a sort of "communion" takes place.
AVIGNON FESTIVAL OF THEATRE 2008
Valerie DREVILLE : - Partage Midi de Paul CLAUDEL / Carrière de Boulbon - La divine comédie de DANTE / Cour d'honneur du Palais - Rendez vous avec Antoine VITEZ / Carrière de Boulbon - Precisions sur les vagues de Celia HOUDART / Ecole d'art Romeo CASTELLUCCI : - Inferno / Cour d'honneur du Palais - Purgatorio / Chateaublanc - Paradiso / Eglise des Celestins Thomas OSTERMEIER : - Hamlet de SHAKESPEARE / Cour d'honneur du Palais M.MONNIER & P.CATERINE: - 2008 Vallee / Cour d'honneur du Palais Joel POMMERAT : - Je tremble (1 et 2) / Opera theatre Guy CASSIERS : - Wolfskers de Jeoren Olyslaegers / Opera theatre - Atropa de Tom LANOYE / Opera theatre Ivo Van HOVE : - Tragédies Romaines de SHAKESPEARE / Gymnase G.Philippe Stanislas NORDEY : - Das system de Falk RICHTER / Salle Benoit XII Arthur NAUZYCIEL : - Ordet (la parole) de Kaj MUNK / Cloitre des Carmes Claire LASNE DARCUEIL: - La Mouette d'Anton TCHEKHOV / Cloitre des Carmes D.JEANNETEAU & M-C SOMA : - Feux d'August STRAMM / Gymnase Aubanel Jan FABRE : - Another sleepy dusty delta day / Chapelle des Penitents Blancs Alvis HERMANIS : - Sonia de Tatiana TOLSTAIA / Salle Benoit XII Ricardo BARTIS : - La pesca / Gymnase Paul Giera L.ARIAS & S.KAEGI : - Airport Kids / Gymnase Lycee Mistral Benjamin VERDONK : - Wewilliverstorn / Chapelle des Penitents Blancs Virgilio SIENI : - Osso / Gymnase Lycee Saint Joseph Philippe QUESNE : - La melancolie des dragons / Cloitre des Celestins - L'effet de Serge / Ecole d'art SUPERAMAS - Empire (Art et politics) / Gymnase Gerard Philippe Francois TANGUY : - Ricercar / Gymnase Lycee Mistral Johann LE GUILLERM : - Secret / Cour du Lycee Mistral - Monstration 2008 / La Miroiterie Heiner GOEBBELS : - Stifters Dinge / Tinel de la Chartreuse Kris VERDONCK : - Variation IV / Chartreuse de Villeneuve lez Avignon Les freres QUAY : - Night nursery / Hotel le Forbin de la Barben Emio GORCO & P.SCHOLTEN : - Purgatorio Popopera / Cours du lycee Saint Joseph - Hell / Cours du lycee Saint Joseph Olivier DUBOIS : - Faune(s) / Cloitre des Celestins J.SAUNIER & J.CLAYBURGH : - Erase-E()x parts 1,2,3,4,5,6 / Salle Benoit XII Sidi Larbi CHERKAOUI : - Sutra / Cours du lycee Saint Joseph Wajdi MOUAWAD : - Seuls / Gymnase Aubanel
"Why do I come ? Why do I come back every year in July for the Avignon Festival ? (since 1955).
Why since 1968, these are my only vacation?
It's because the Theatre is one of the elements that has me and continues being structured, constructing me. It is the Theatre which, from time to time open me an inexpected door, that lets me foresee the infinity, gives me the intelligence of our life. It is these special instants which "feed me". It is for it that I chose to come to work live in Bourges where exists a Home of living Culture.
Avignon is the strong point where it possible to see the Theatre living, changing, following evolutions of time. Avignon is also, lately, an opportunity to know the Theatre which is made in Europe.
Avignon is never immobile, Avignon is always in movement. Avignon is never repeated..."
Jeanine Huicq
"My first time in Avignon was in 1968 : Jean Vilar and Béjart at la Cour d'Honneur, "Le living Theatre to les Carmes, un decesive shock. I know that I'll be back...
It will be in 1974, with the compagny I directed : The Galion Theatre, with :
- "Le petit Soldat de paille" at Galante movie Theatre
- "Mamemlin" at Piot Islant
- "Quand j'avais 5 ans, je m'ai tué" to Chamfleury
- "Buffo" to the University of Joseph VERNET
Sometimes we do come to perform, sometimes as simple spectator. But always happiness to survey streets, and always see the town from another point of view... In every corner, a memory or a new meeting.
25 years of pleasures of Theatre, and always the same wait, never disappointed, a necessary date of break and youth.
Thank to the Avignon Hotel Monclar which welcomes me everyeart"
Alain SABAUD
