The Festival d'Avignon

We asked Alexa about one of her favourite festivals – the Festival d'Avignon. This is what she had to say.

People often ask me, What’s your favourite thing to do in France in the summer?

Of course there are lots of things I could mention. Strolling through a vineyard. Lying on the beach along the Côte d'Azur. Exploring the streets of Marseilles or Nice. But my answer is always the same: The Festival d’Avignon.

For those who don’t know, the Festival d’Avignon is - as the name suggests - a festival that takes place in Avignon over the course of a few weeks. It’s a huge celebration of art and culture, attracting the greatest talents from France and beyond. This year it’s taking place from 29th June until 21st July, so it’ll be finishing this weekend.

Founded in 1947, it is also the oldest continuing festival in France, and has built up a reputation for unbridled creativity and explosive originality. But every year is different. I’ve been going annually for fifteen years now, and each year has been a totally new experience. Last year’s festival, on the theme of ‘memory and the future, of vulnerability and power’, featured everything from an ‘Afrofuturist reinvention’ of Ziggy Stardust to a photo Exhibition exploring the history of the festival, while this year you can watch a flamenco dance act off the back of a Catalonian adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard III.

My favourite part of the festival has to be the puppet shows. To native English-speakers, talking about ‘puppets’ might conjure up images of Punch and Judy. But in France, les marionettes are something else entirely. These puppets are meticulously crafted and almost uncanny in appearance. They can be anything from little dolls to life-sized monsters, and the plays they take part in are captivating and tremendously performed. It’s definitely worth checking out a puppet show or two while you’re there.

But even if puppet shows aren’t your thing, there’s really something – or rather, many things – for everyone. Thousands of plays are performed each day, as well as debates, readings, exhibits and dance and music performances, and the tickets are always affordable. It’s the perfect condensation of French culture – so go check it out!