Festival actoral
International festival of contemporary arts and writings in Marseille
2026
About actoral
actoral — edition 2026
The 26th edition of actoral takes place from September 23 to October 10, 2026, in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, following a prelude on September 12 at La Cômerie. About a hundred events across twenty-three venues: Vimala Pons, Rodrigo García, Philippe Quesne, Adèle Haenel and Caro Geryl, Marion Siéfert and Matthieu Bareyre, Betty Tchomanga, Dana Michel.
actoral 26, from September 23 to October 10, 2026
The 26th edition opens on Wednesday, September 23, at Théâtre des Calanques with "SYNTHETIC/Artefact" by Tiran Willemse and concludes on Saturday, October 10, at Friche la Belle de Mai, where the closing party begins at 11:30 PM at Le Petit Cab. A prelude takes place beforehand on Saturday, September 12, at La Cômerie: a reading by Carolina Bianchi on Clarice Lispector, a film by Pauline Curnier Jardin, music by Ha Kyoon and Zoë Mc Pherson, and a DJ set by Sucré Saleté.
Theater, dance, performance, film, and literature
Around a hundred events are spread over eighteen days and twenty-three venues, mainly in Marseille and at the Théâtre du Bois de l'Aune in Aix-en-Provence. Among the highly anticipated creations: "Honda Romance" by Vimala Pons at LaMAM, "Están jodidos / Dicen que se alegran" by Rodrigo García, "Voir clair avec Monique Wittig" by Adèle Haenel and Caro Geryl, "Bunker" by Marion Siéfert and Matthieu Bareyre, "Le Paradoxe de John" by Philippe Quesne at Le ZEF, and "YOU CANNOT CAN" by Dana Michel, a choreographic solo in the pool at Piscine Desautel.
Readings and literary meetings play a major role in the program, held at Frac Sud, cipM, Librairie Mazette, Giselle's Books, LaMAM, and montévidéo. The Mucem dedicates its 2026 "Poetry Day" to Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwich on Friday, September 25, at 6:30 PM. Screenings take place at Videodrome 2, Les Variétés, La Baleine, and [mac].
Montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
The actoral venue at 45 rue d'Aubagne, in the Noailles district, hosts about ten events for this edition: staged readings by Valérie Bah and Timothée Zourabichvili, the "Mind Control Weapon" installation, performances by John Deneuve and the duo Khalil Albatran and Bilal Alkhatib, a carte blanche to Éditions Tumulte, and an evening of readings on October 9.
Highlights actoral 2026
- Vimala Pons, "Honda Romance" — September 25 and 26 at LaMAM
- Rodrigo García, "Están jodidos / Dicen que se alegran" — September 30 and October 1, Grand Plateau at Friche la Belle de Mai
- Adèle Haenel and Caro Geryl / DameChevaliers, "Voir clair avec Monique Wittig" — September 30 and October 1, salle Seita
- Marion Siéfert and Matthieu Bareyre, "Bunker" — October 3 and 4, Grand Plateau at Friche
- Philippe Quesne, "Le Paradoxe de John" — October 7 and 8 at Le ZEF
- Betty Tchomanga, "Histoire(s) Décoloniale(s)" triptych — #Autoportrait at Ballet national de Marseille on September 29 and 30, #Dalila and #Mulunesh at La Cômerie on October 2
- Dana Michel, "YOU CANNOT CAN", dance solo in a pool — October 3 and 4 at Piscine Desautel
- Prelude on Saturday, September 12 at La Cômerie, closing party on October 10 at 11:30 PM at Le Petit Cab, Friche
- Montévidéo rue d'Aubagne, the actoral venue at 45 rue d'Aubagne, hosts readings, installations, and performances
Programme actoral 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — Prelude at La Cômerie
- 6:45 PM — Prelude · Reading, film, live performance, and DJ set · La Cômerie
- 7:00 PM — Pauline Curnier Jardin · Film · La Cômerie
- 7:30 PM — Carolina Bianchi · Reading on Clarice Lispector · La Cômerie
- 9:00 PM — Ha Kyoon, "Buridan's Snares" · Music · La Cômerie
- 9:45 PM — Zoë Mc Pherson · Music · La Cômerie
- 10:00 PM — Sucré Saleté · DJ set · La Cômerie
Tickets for the prelude are available in two packages: parts 1 and 2 (reading, film, live performance, and DJ set), or part 2 only (live performance and DJ set).
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Tiran Willemse, "SYNTHETIC/Artefact" · Dance and performance · Théâtre des Calanques
Thursday, September 24, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Hippolyne NxNN, "Y a un fuckQkueen gorgé de nidsXscxssxXx" · Performance · La Compagnie
- 7:00 PM — Anacarsis Ramos / Pornotráfico, "Mi madre y el dinero" · Theater · Théâtre Joliette, small hall
- 7:30 PM — Valérie Bah, "Souterrain" · Staged reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 9:00 PM — Geneviève Matthieu, "Danseprophétiqueàl'îlebizarre" · Performance · Théâtre des Bernardines
- 9:00 PM — Tiran Willemse, "SYNTHETIC/Artefact" · Dance and performance · Théâtre des Calanques
Friday, September 25, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Gaëtan Rusquet, "Back-and-Forth" · Performance · Frac Sud
- 6:30 PM — Mahmoud Darwich Poetry Day · Readings, installation, and talks · Mucem, auditorium
- 7:00 PM — Vimala Pons, "I promise I'll come and rescue you" · Film · LaMAM
- 7:00 PM — Geneviève Matthieu, "Danseprophétiqueàl'îlebizarre" · Performance · Théâtre des Bernardines
- 7:00 PM — Pre-show talk · Meeting · Théâtre Joliette, small hall
- 9:00 PM — Anacarsis Ramos / Pornotráfico, "Mi madre y el dinero" · Theater · Théâtre Joliette, small hall
- 9:00 PM — Vimala Pons, "Honda Romance" · Theater and performance · LaMAM
Saturday, September 26, 2026
- 4:00 PM — Christophe Tarkos read by Hubert Colas, "L'argent" · Reading · cipM
- 4:00 PM — Randa Maroufi, "L'MINA" · Film · Frac Sud
- 5:00 PM — John Deneuve, "Pédilove" · Performance · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 6:00 PM — Gaëtan Rusquet, "Back-and-Forth" · Performance · Frac Sud
- 6:00 PM — Antoine Charbonneau-Demers, "Nature Boy" · Reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:00 PM — Vimala Pons, "I promise I'll come and rescue you" · Film · LaMAM
- 7:00 PM — Anacarsis Ramos / Pornotráfico, "Mi madre y el dinero" · Theater · Théâtre Joliette, small hall
- 7:30 PM — Jean D'Amérique, "Un poème dans la flaque rouge" · Performed reading · LaMAM
- 9:00 PM — Vimala Pons, "Honda Romance" · Theater and performance · LaMAM
Sunday, September 27, 2026 — An afternoon at [mac]
- 2:30 PM — Katia Kameli · Film · [mac], musée d'Art contemporain
- 2:30 PM — Sarah Haidar · Reading · [mac], musée d'Art contemporain
- 2:30 PM — Mustapha Benfodil, "Générations radieuses" · Reading · [mac], musée d'Art contemporain
These three events form a single session, "An afternoon at [mac] Musée d'art contemporain," listed at €0 on the ticketing platform.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- 12:00 PM — Timothée Zourabichvili, "Mind Control Weapon" · Installation · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 6:00 PM — Claudine Galea, "Hurlevent carcasse" · Reading · Frac Sud
- 7:00 PM — Valentin Noujaïm, "INTERZONE" · Meeting · Giselle's Books
- 7:30 PM — Antoine Volodine, "Retour au Goudron, Dernière Livraison" · Reading and meeting · Frac Sud
- 8:00 PM — Betty Tchomanga, "Histoire(s) Décoloniale(s) #Autoportrait" · Dance · Ballet national de Marseille
- 8:30 PM — Valentin Noujaïm, "La trilogie de La Défense" · Film · Les Variétés
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Samir Laghouati-Rashwan, "Acting Fantasma" · Performance and dance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
- 7:00 PM — Jonas Sollberger · Reading · Librairie Mazette
- 7:00 PM — Alix Lerasle · Reading · Librairie Mazette
- 7:30 PM — Adèle Haenel and Caro Geryl / DameChevaliers, "Voir clair avec Monique Wittig" · Theater, performance, and music · Friche la Belle de Mai, salle Seita
- 8:00 PM — Betty Tchomanga, "Histoire(s) Décoloniale(s) #Autoportrait" · Dance · Ballet national de Marseille
- 9:30 PM — Rodrigo García, "Están jodidos / Dicen que se alegran" · Theater and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
Thursday, October 1, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Samir Laghouati-Rashwan, "Acting Fantasma" · Performance and dance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
- 7:30 PM — Timothée Zourabichvili directed by Hubert Colas, "Plomb" · Staged reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:30 PM — Adèle Haenel and Caro Geryl / DameChevaliers, "Voir clair avec Monique Wittig" · Theater, performance, and music · Friche la Belle de Mai, salle Seita
- 9:30 PM — Rodrigo García, "Están jodidos / Dicen que se alegran" · Theater and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
Friday, October 2, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Adèle Haenel, "Viser juste" · Reading · Conservatoire Pierre Barbizet
- 8:00 PM — Karim Kattan, "Septentrionale" · Reading · La Cômerie
- 8:00 PM — Mascare, "Belgazou" · Musical reading · La Cômerie
- 8:30 PM — Pauline Curnier Jardin · Film · Videodrome 2
- 8:30 PM — Guillermo Quintero, "Boyuna" · Film · Videodrome 2
- 8:30 PM — Racornelia, "Dentro de lo Azul" · Film · Videodrome 2
- 8:30 PM — Lucy Kerr, "My Little Nothing" · Film · Videodrome 2
- 9:30 PM — Betty Tchomanga, "Histoire(s) Décoloniale(s) #Mulunesh" · Dance · La Cômerie
- 9:30 PM — Betty Tchomanga, "Histoire(s) Décoloniale(s) #Dalila" · Dance · La Cômerie
The readings by Karim Kattan and Mascare are booked together under the title "readings at La Cômerie." Both parts of Betty Tchomanga's work are included in a single ticket.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- 3:00 PM — Carte blanche to Éditions Tumulte · Readings and musical reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 5:30 PM — Grégoire Schaller, "No Country for Old Fag" · Performance and dance · Friche la Belle de Mai, salle Seita
- 6:00 PM — Tom Fontenille · Film · La Baleine
- 7:00 PM — Marion Siéfert and Matthieu Bareyre, "Bunker" · Theater · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
- 7:30 PM — Dana Michel, "YOU CANNOT CAN" · Performance and dance · Piscine Desautel
- 10:00 PM — Stéphanie Aflalo, "Tout doit disparaître" · Theater · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
Sunday, October 4, 2026
- 3:30 PM — Dana Michel, "YOU CANNOT CAN" · Performance and dance · Piscine Desautel
- 4:00 PM — Grégoire Schaller, "No Country for Old Fag" · Performance and dance · Friche la Belle de Mai, salle Seita
- 5:00 PM — Marion Siéfert and Matthieu Bareyre, "Bunker" · Theater · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
- 8:00 PM — Stéphanie Aflalo, "Tout doit disparaître" · Theater · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
Monday, October 5, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Isabelle Ingold and Vivianne Perelmuter · Film · La Baleine
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Harald Beharie · Workshop for professionals, in echo to Sweet Spot · Friche la Belle de Mai
- 6:00 PM — Jana Jacuka, "Disobeying Voice" · Workshop · Friche la Belle de Mai
- 7:00 PM — Sonia Chiambretto, "À nos enfants glorieux" · Theater · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
- 7:00 PM — Khalil Albatran and Bilal Alkhatib, "Khalil Khalil" · Performance and music · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:30 PM — Louisa Yousfi, "La grande méthode" · Reading · LaMAM
- 9:00 PM — Alberto Cortés, "El corazón de Ester" · Theater and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
- 9:00 PM — Smaïl Kanouté, "SÔ AVA" · Dance · LaMAM
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Harald Beharie · Workshop for professionals, in echo to Sweet Spot · Friche la Belle de Mai
- 7:00 PM — ludovic hadjeras, "Celui qu'on aime et qu'on pourtant mange" · Reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:00 PM — Sonia Chiambretto, "À nos enfants glorieux" · Theater · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
- 7:30 PM — Victor Malzac and Rubin Steiner, "Le monstre mur" · Musical reading · Le ZEF, studio
- 7:30 PM — Jana Jacuka, "HA" · Performance · GMEM, Friche la Belle de Mai
- 8:30 PM — Khalil Albatran and Bilal Alkhatib, "Khalil Khalil" · Performance and music · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 9:00 PM — Alberto Cortés, "El corazón de Ester" · Theater and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
- 9:00 PM — Philippe Quesne, "Le Paradoxe de John" · Theater and performance · Le ZEF, plateau
Thursday, October 8, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Laju Bourgain and Théophylle Dcx, "b0dy +n to found (_macarena)" · Performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, salle Seita
- 7:30 PM — Sophie Perez / Le Zerep, "Sturbzep" · Theater · Théâtre du Bois de l'Aune, Aix-en-Provence
- 7:30 PM — Laura Vazquez, "Premier millimètre" · Performed reading · Le ZEF, plateau
- 8:00 PM — Jana Jacuka, "HA" · Performance · GMEM, Friche la Belle de Mai
- 9:00 PM — Philippe Quesne, "Le Paradoxe de John" · Theater and performance · Le ZEF, plateau
- 9:30 PM — César Vayssié and Marion Barbeau, "JOUIR.E" · Dance and performance · Scène 44 n+n corsino
Friday, October 9, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Joëlle Sambi, "Maison chaos" · Reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:00 PM — Raïssa Yowali, "Les mille soleils de Busu Jano" · Reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:00 PM — Pauline Allié · Staged reading · montévidéo rue d'Aubagne
- 7:00 PM — César Vayssié and Marion Barbeau, "JOUIR.E" · Dance and performance · Scène 44 n+n corsino
- 7:00 PM — Laju Bourgain and Théophylle Dcx, "b0dy +n to found (_macarena)" · Performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, salle Seita
- 8:30 PM — Sophie Perez / Le Zerep, "Sturbzep" · Theater · Théâtre du Bois de l'Aune, Aix-en-Provence
- 8:30 PM — Harald Beharie, "Sweet Spot" · Dance and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
- 10:00 PM — Katerina Andreou and Mélissa Guex, "SHOUT TWICE" · Dance and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
The three readings at montévidéo are booked as a single ticket, "evening of readings at montévidéo."
Saturday, October 10, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Artist meeting: Élise Courcol-Rozès, Stanley Menthor, and Lucas Resende · Presentation of works in progress · Friche la Belle de Mai
- 7:30 PM — Harald Beharie, "Sweet Spot" · Dance and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Petit Plateau
- 9:30 PM — Katerina Andreou and Mélissa Guex, "SHOUT TWICE" · Dance and performance · Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau
- 11:30 PM — Closing party · Live, DJ set, and music · Le Petit Cab, Friche la Belle de Mai
Prices actoral 2026
2026 ticketing price grids (full / reduced / social minimums): 26 / 9 / 9 € · 22 / 12 / 8 € · 18 / 12 / 8 € · 16 / 12 / 8 € · 12 / 9 / 9 € · 12 / 8 / 6 € · 8 / 6 / 6 € · 6 / 6 / 6 € · 6 / 3 / 3 € · 5 / 3 / 3 €.
Several events are listed at €0 on the festival's ticketing platform: Frac Sud, [mac], Théâtre du Bois de l'Aune, pre-show talk at Théâtre Joliette, and the artist meeting on October 10.
The Pass actoral is non-transferable. It provides the Pass rate for shows and allows the accompanying person to benefit from the reduced rate. It does not guarantee seat availability: advance booking is recommended.
Reservations at actoral.org/billetterie or [email protected].
Practical information — actoral
Practical Information
Ticketing
Book your tickets at actoral.org/billetterie or via email at [email protected]. The actoral Pass is non-transferable: it grants access to the special Pass rate for shows and allows your guest to benefit from the reduced rate.
Festival Venues
- Montévidéo rue d'Aubagne — 45 rue d'Aubagne, 13001 Marseille
- La Compagnie — 19 rue Francis de Pressensé, 13001 Marseille
- Théâtre des Bernardines — 17 boulevard Garibaldi, 13001 Marseille
- Conservatoire Pierre Barbizet — 2 place Auguste et François Carli, 13001 Marseille
- Théâtre Joliette — 2 place Henri Verneuil, 13002 Marseille
- Frac Sud — 20 boulevard de Dunkerque, 13002 Marseille
- Mucem, auditorium — 7 promenade Robert Laffont, esplanade du J4, 13002 Marseille
- Friche la Belle de Mai, Grand Plateau, Petit Plateau, salle Seita, GMEM and Le Petit Cab — 41 rue Jobin, 13003 Marseille
- LaMAM, Maison des Arts Marseille — 16 promenade Léo Ferré, 13003 Marseille
- Scène 44 n+n corsino, pôle Média Belle de Mai — 37 rue Guibal, 13003 Marseille
- La Cômerie — 174 rue Breteuil, 13006 Marseille
- Théâtre des Calanques — 35 traverse de Carthage, 13008 Marseille
- [mac], musée d'Art contemporain — 69 avenue Haifa, 13008 Marseille
- Ballet national de Marseille — 20 boulevard de Gabès, 13008 Marseille
- Piscine Desautel — 18 chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13009 Marseille
- Le ZEF, scène nationale, studio and plateau — avenue Raimu, 13014 Marseille
- Théâtre du Bois de l'Aune — 1 bis place Victor Schoelcher, Jas de Bouffan, 13090 Aix-en-Provence
The festival programme also includes events at the cipM, Giselle's Books bookstore, Mazette bookstore, Les Variétés cinema, Videodrome 2, and La Baleine cinema.
Contact
Phone: +33 (0)4 91 04 68 41
Email: [email protected], [email protected] for bookings
Instagram: @festival_actoral · Facebook: FestivalactOral
A crossroads of contemporary arts
The festival actoral was founded in 2001 by director Hubert Colas with the aim of creating a space for encounters between forms of contemporary writing and live arts. Since its creation, actoral has established itself as one of the major events for contemporary creation in France, at the crossroads of theater, dance, visual arts, performance, literature, music, and cinema.
Three autumn weeks in Marseille
Every year from late September to mid-October, actoral takes over several venues in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence for three weeks of shows, performances, readings, concerts, and exhibitions. More than 200 artists from France and abroad are invited to each edition, and the festival attracted approximately 12,000 spectators in 2025.
Writing at the heart of the project
What distinguishes actoral from other multidisciplinary festivals is the central place given to writing—understood in its broadest sense: dramatic, poetic, choreographic, sound, and film writing. The festival champions artists who invent new forms of expression, where text and gesture, sound and image intersect and nourish each other.
Residencies and artistic support
Actoral is not limited to the festival period. Throughout the year, the association hosts around 50 artists in residence, offering them a space for creation and experimentation. The festival also supports artists in production and touring, contributing to the dissemination of contemporary creation in France and internationally. The association is chaired by Stephan Kutniak and artistically directed by Hubert Colas.
Where does it take place — actoral
actoral in brief
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