Avignon Festival: between stress and excitement, how do the troops prepare?

Marie Gicquel 2:15 p.m., July 07, 2022

The Avignon Festival opens this Thursday, even if the organizers remain vigilant due to the epidemic rebound.

More than 1,500 shows will punctuate this edition for three weeks, until July 30.

And there will be something for everyone and for all ages.

Many young companies make their baptism at the Festival d'Avignon, between difficulty and resourcefulness. 

"It's a crazy thing"

These companies often pay out of pocket to play and try to attract producers.

Avignon is the Holy Grail for all emerging companies.

Example with the troupe La Générale Posthume, which comes out of school.

Bamboo is one of them, and she's a little stressed.

"It was my ultimate dream to do Avignon," she confides on Europe 1. "It's crazy. We're there and it's great!"

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This company of trapeze artists presents a circus show called

.

And there, for them, it's rather a harsh summer.

Coming from Châlons-en-Champagne in the Marne, they are suffering from the heat and there has already been an epic journey, as Bambou confides: "Regarding the decor, we have achieved the feat of bringing in everything we had need in a vehicle that is almost half the usual volume. I left Châlons-en-Champagne with an almost perfect load."

"It's very intense technically"

An economic and camping festival for the troupe.

It was necessary to pay 40,000 euros to put on this high-flying show and to be able to play it twelve times.

They are supported by partners and grants.

For example, you have to rent the room and deal with small disappointments.

"After the galleys, it's a mega big organization, it's a big logistics. Sometimes we only have four hours to rehearse, two hours here and there and we put on shows every day. It's technically that it's very intense", explains Bambou.

Unexpected events, but the company has stars in its eyes and hopes to attract the public.