Thirst for shows! A festival of fraternity in Deux-Sèvres
The Festival au Village is a summer event of theater, circus, and street arts that takes place every summer in Brioux-sur-Boutonne, in the south of Deux-Sèvres. Supported by the association Scènes Nomades and hailed by Robin Renucci as 'a festival of fraternity', it has brought together for over thirty-five years some thirty companies, more than 150 artists, and forty shows in a village of less than a thousand inhabitants. Contemporary theater, circus, music, shows for young audiences, and street creations make up a demanding and popular program, largely accessible thanks to numerous free performances.
Since its creation, the Festival au Village in Brioux-sur-Boutonne has embodied a unique vision of live performance: that of a festival deliberately choosing the countryside, the village, as its artistic expression ground. In this small commune in the south of Deux-Sèvres, nestled on the banks of the Boutonne river, the association Scènes Nomades has built over the decades a major cultural event that attracts thousands of spectators each summer.
The festival is distinguished by the quality and diversity of its programming. Contemporary theater, circus, street arts, music, and shows for young audiences are presented over about ten days, featuring forty performances by thirty professional companies. From texts by Joël Pommerat to aerial circus acts, from concerts under the stars to street parades, the Festival au Village offers a complete panorama of contemporary live performance.
During the festival, Brioux-sur-Boutonne is transformed. Streets, squares, gardens, farmyards, and municipal buildings all become stages for the performances. This appropriation of public space by artists creates a unique atmosphere where the line between stage and audience, between artists and spectators, blurs in favor of a collective and festive experience.
Robin Renucci, an actor and emblematic figure of French popular theater, has described the Festival au Village as a 'festival of fraternity', highlighting its ability to create social bonds and bring diverse audiences together around live performance. This human and convivial dimension is the event's deep identity.
The Festival au Village is strongly committed to cultural accessibility. Many shows are offered for free, allowing all audiences—families, children, local residents, visitors—to discover quality artistic proposals. The festival receives support from the DRAC, the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Département des Deux-Sèvres, and local authorities, demonstrating its institutional recognition.
Brioux-sur-Boutonne is located in the south of Deux-Sèvres, 30 km from Melle, 45 km from Niort, and 50 km from Saintes.
Many shows are free. Online ticketing on the festival website for paid shows.
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Village de Brioux-sur-Boutonne