Festival de Théâtre de Figeac

The Festival de Théâtre de Figeac: Theatre in the Heart of the Medieval City

Since 2000, the Festival de Théâtre de Figeac has transformed the city of Champollion into an ephemeral open-air theatre every summer. Founded by Marcel Maréchal and Les Tréteaux de France, a touring National Dramatic Centre, the festival was born from the will of the City of Figeac to bring theatre to rural areas, blending the creations of Les Tréteaux with companies from the Midi-Pyrénées region.

In just a few years, the Festival de Figeac has carved out its place among the major summer festivals. After the founding period of Marcel Maréchal (2000-2009), the festival was directed by Olivier Desbordes and Michel Fau with Opéra Éclaté, then for thirteen years (2011-2024) by Véronique Do and ScénOgraph, a nationally recognized Scene. Since 2025, L'Astrolabe Grand-Figeac, under the direction of Éric Music Thimjo, has been responsible for the festival's programming and development.

Exceptional Venues in Figeac

The festival's unique feature lies in its deep roots within Figeac's architectural heritage. Performances come to life in remarkable natural and historical settings:

• La Cour du Puy, an open-air medieval setting for evening performances
• La Salle Balène (Palais Balène), an indoor performance hall
• Le Jardin des Écritures, for morning readings
• La Place Carnot, for brief encounters with artists
• Le Cinéma Charles Boyer and l'Auditorium de l'École de musique, for screenings and conferences

A Programme Balancing Heritage and Creation

The Festival de Théâtre de Figeac offers a rich and eclectic programme that dialogues between contemporary writing and great texts from the repertoire. Over about ten days, the public can discover:

• Theatre performances by renowned artists (Denis Lavant, Fanny Ardant, Julie Depardieu, Pauline Bayle, Benjamin Lazar…)
• Readings related to literary and poetic heritage
• "Apéro-rencontres" (drinks and encounters) with artists under the market halls
• Film screenings: documentaries and films about the performing arts
• "Off" shows, free in the city centre: concerts, street performances

A Festival Committed to its Territory

Deeply rooted in the Grand-Figeac territory, the festival benefits from the support of the DRAC Occitanie, the Région Occitanie, the Département du Lot, and the Ville de Figeac. A partner of Télérama and local companies like Collins Aerospace, Crédit Agricole, and ENEDIS, it contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of the northern Lot. The festival aims to be a place of joyful sharing between artists and audiences, where theatre becomes a way of looking at the world with curiosity, delicacy, and humanity.