The invitation was launched two years ago but today, a month after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it takes on a more than symbolic dimension. It is a play by Russian director and director Kirill Serebrennikov, an opponent of Vladimir Putin’s regime, which will open the 76th Festival d’Avignon in the main courtyard of the Popes’ Palace on July 7. The Ukrainian punk cabaret group Dakh Daughters will bring it to a close on July 26.
→ ARCHIVES. Director Kirill Serebrennikov arrested
Currently under a ban on leaving Moscow – his presence in Avignon next July remains uncertain – Kirill Serebrennikov adapts The Black Monka short story by Anton Chekhov, of which he has already presented a preliminary version in Hamburg, where he had been authorized to go last January.
46 scheduled shows
Following the example of the fantastic vein of this inaugural piece, the program unfolds around the theme ” Once upon a time… “ wanted by Olivier Py for his last edition as director of the festival. The 46 shows – no less than 270 curtain raisers –, of which 87% are creations, will unfold around the world of storytelling, but also of resilience. A word of which “we really need”underlined Olivier Py during the presentation of the program, on March 24, at the Fabrica d’Avignon, “It is undoubtedly a definition of theatre. Theater teaches us to live and survive as we go through apocalypses.” Tutelary figure of this theater with a thousand saving virtues, Shakespeare is summoned by Christophe Rauck, who will stage Richard II with Micha Lescot in the title role, and by the Sardinian director Alessandro Serra, with The storm.
At the Opera, which has just reopened after several years of restoration work, Anne Théron will stage Iphigenia, revisited by Tiago Rodrigues, future director of the festival. La Fabrica will host the entire cycle Ash Nest by Simon Falguières, young author and talented director: a theatrical epic of thirteen hours which will navigate between realism and fantasy. For his final festival, Olivier Py also offers himself his great crossing – ten hours announced – with My exalted youtha river coin he signed to celebrate “the coming youth”, he indicated.
→ PORTRAIT. Tiago Rodrigues appointed head of the Avignon Festival
As always, Avignon travels with artists from all over the world, including the Chinese Meng Jinghui with The Seventh Day, based on a novel by Yu Hua. The Palestinian Bashar Murkus, who caused a sensation in 2021 with his Museumis back with Milk, an almost wordless play about the pain of women in war. We will also find the Lebanese Hanane Hajj Ali with Jogging where, alone on stage, she recounts her journey through a devastated Beirut. For her part, the Swedish Sofia Adrian Jupither stages Solitairethe last piece by Lars Noren, who died in January 2021.
The dance at the rendezvous
Dance also tells the world, with a beautiful poster that brings together the Irish Oona Doherty with Lady Magmathe South African dancers of Via Katlehong under the direction of the choreographers Amala Dianor and Marco Da Silva Ferreira, and the Belgian Jan Martens who will occupy the main courtyard with the Royal Ballet of Flanders for Near future, a reflection on man’s ability to change. Finally, the Avignon public should have the chance to applaud The sacrifice long awaited by South African choreographer Dada Masilo. After the canceled 2020 edition, this ballet, inspired by Stravinsky, Pina Bausch and the ritual dances of Botswana, had to be postponed again to 2021 due to Covid. Its rescheduling is one of the most pleasing news of this festival which is taking shape under the best auspices.