Festival Ah?

Parthenay, an open stage for street arts

Since 2003, the Festival Ah? has made the streets of Parthenay vibrate to the rhythm of street arts. Supported by the association Ah?, this festival transforms the medieval city into an open-air stage every May, where clowns, acrobats, musicians, actors, magicians, puppeteers, and DJs take over the cobbled alleys, squares, and ramparts of the city.

A demanding and multidisciplinary program

Each edition hosts around twenty companies and artists offering shows of circus, street theater, street arts, puppets, concerts, fanfares, and exhibitions. The festival places performing arts in public spaces at the heart of its program, with particular attention to circus and fairground aesthetics. The discovery of new artistic talents is a stated priority.

A festival rooted in its territory

The Festival Ah? is not limited to Parthenay: it extends to about ten communes in Gâtine, bringing performing arts to the villages of the region. This traveling dimension strengthens the link between artistic creation and local life, making the festival a major player in the cultural life of the Deux-Sèvres department.

A year-round cultural season

Beyond the May festival, the association Ah? offers a cultural season throughout the year with shows at the Théâtre du Palais des Congrès in Parthenay and cultural mediation activities for schools and the region. The festival is thus the culmination of a permanent artistic program.