A Festival in Villeréal
Seeing theater differently
About A Festival in Villeréal
A Festival in Villeréal: seeing theater differently
Since 2009, the Vous êtes Ici collective has organized A Festival in Villeréal every summer, transforming this Lot-et-Garonne bastide into a vast open-air theater. Founded by Samuel Vittoz, the festival has established itself as a unique space for theatrical creation in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, driven by a strong conviction: seeing theater differently.
A Singular Concept Rooted in the Territory
The festival's originality lies in its intimate relationship with the village and its inhabitants. Professional artistic teams are invited to create on-site, taking over everyday spaces transformed into performance venues: private gardens, barns, houses, the Intermarché parking lot, the rugby stadium, as well as the streets and the medieval market hall of Villeréal. Residents actively participate by voluntarily housing artists, lending props and sets, and opening their private spaces to the public.
This model is based on two founding principles that guide each edition:
- Being a creation festival: the shows presented are original creations, the result of research conducted in the area for several weeks.
- Questioning production models: the festival favors the non-commercial and rejects classic festival consumption norms, placing the encounter between artists and the public at the heart of the experience.
A Demanding and Committed Program
Each edition offers about ten shows mixing theatrical creations, stage writing, collective writing, concerts, film screenings, conferences, and readings. In over ten years of existence, the festival has seen the birth of approximately 60 original artistic forms, making Villeréal a true laboratory for contemporary creation.
The festival particularly highlights contemporary writing and singular aesthetics. The 2025 edition, under the artistic direction of Laurette Tessier and Nicolas Candoni (who succeeded Samuel Vittoz in January 2025), focused on women artists — writers, directors, company leaders, actresses, and visual artists — with creations offering intense, moving, and sensitive experiences.
Theater That Emerges in Everyday Life
The festival's strength lies in bringing theater to unexpected places. Spectators are invited to go to the ticket office under the arcades of the Villeréal Market Hall twenty minutes before each performance to discover the secret location where the show will take place. This approach creates a unique relationship between the work, the space, and the audience, where each performance becomes an immersive and intimate experience.
Evolution Over the Years
After the Covid-19 pandemic period, the festival adapted to the new realities of the territory. Villeréal having obtained the "Most Beautiful Village in France" label, the real estate context evolved, and available houses to accommodate artists and shows became scarcer. The Vous êtes Ici collective then expanded its activities: year-round programming, extension to other villages in the Bastides en Haut-Agenais Périgord community of communes, mediation actions in schools, and reflection on associative governance.
A Festival in Villeréal — edition 2026
The 17th edition of Un Festival à Villeréal will take place from July 1st to 5th, 2026 in the bastide of Villeréal (Lot-et-Garonne). Under the artistic direction of Laurette Tessier and Nicolas Candoni, the collective Vous êtes Ici continues its approach to theatrical creation in everyday places — gardens, barns, houses — with a program mixing theatre, dance, concerts, readings, and meeting times, dedicated to contemporary writings.
17th edition — July 1st to 5th, 2026
The 17th edition of Un Festival à Villeréal takes place from July 1st to 5th, 2026. Under the artistic direction of Laurette Tessier and Nicolas Candoni, the collective Vous êtes Ici continues its work of theatrical creation in the heart of the village of Villeréal, faithful to its two founding principles: to be a creation festival and to prioritize non-commercial aspects.
Around thirty professional artists take over everyday places — gardens, barns, houses, courtyards, and unusual spots in the bastide — to present original creations written on stage, based on a text or a theme and a period of exploration of the village with the complicity of its inhabitants. The program mixes theatre, dance, concerts, conferences, and readings.
Festival-goers will find the ticket office under the arcades of the Place de la Halle, with the ritual of discovering the performance venue twenty minutes before each show. The detailed day-by-day program will be announced in June 2026 on the official website of the collective Vous êtes Ici.
Programme A Festival in Villeréal 2026
17th edition — July 1st to 5th, 2026
Artistic teams and companies announced for the 2026 edition:
- Collectif Balle Perdue
- Compagnie Sauvage
- Pôle Nord
- Palabras
- Pris dans les phares
- Isée Rocaboy
- Lucas Meister
- Ludovic Drouet
- Collectif Quatre Ailes
- Claire Bosse-Platière
- TRAC 47
The detailed program (performance times and venues, revealed on site) will be published in June 2026 on vousetesici.org. For each show, meet at the ticket office under the arcades of the Place de la Halle twenty minutes before the performance to discover the venue where it will take place.
Highlights A Festival in Villeréal 2026
- 17th edition from July 1st to 5th, 2026
- Artistic direction: Laurette Tessier and Nicolas Candoni
- Around thirty professional artists creating in unusual village locations
- Theatre, dance, concerts, readings, and meetings
- Detailed program announced in June on vousetesici.org
Prices A Festival in Villeréal 2026
Practical information — A Festival in Villeréal
Access
By car: Villeréal is located in the southeast of Lot-et-Garonne, halfway between Bordeaux (approx. 1h40 via A62 then D676) and Toulouse (approx. 2h via A62). From Agen, allow about 50 minutes via D676. The village is 25 km south of Bergerac (Dordogne).
Parking: Free parking available in the village. Some performance venues are accessible on foot from the center.
Ticketing
The ticket office is located under the arcades of the Place de la Halle in Villeréal. It opens from July 1st, with the following hours: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
For each show, go to the ticket office 20 minutes before the start of the performance to discover the venue where the show will take place.
Prices
- Full price: €10
- Reduced price (under 18s, job seekers, RSA recipients): €7
- Film screenings: €5 or €3 depending on the session
- Festival Pass: €50
- Day Pass: €25
Some events are free and open to all.
Reservations
Reservations can be made by phone or email:
- Phone: 07 66 86 92 10
- Email: [email protected]
Accommodation
Villeréal offers several accommodation options: gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and campsites in the surrounding area. The Bastides en Haut-Agenais Périgord Tourist Office can assist festival-goers with their search.
Contact
Vous êtes Ici Association
53 Rue Saint-James, 47210 Villeréal
Phone: 07 66 86 92 10
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vousetesici.org
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Where does it take place — A Festival in Villeréal
Place de la Halle et divers lieux du village
53 Rue Saint-James, 47210 Villeréal