Festival du Manteau d'Arlequin

Le Manteau d'Arlequin: A Historic Theatre Festival in Cluis

The Festival du Manteau d'Arlequin is one of the oldest amateur theatre festivals in the Indre region. Since 1959, the Manteau d'Arlequin troupe has occupied the spectacular ruins of the Cluis-Dessous fortress, a historical monument from the 12th and 15th centuries overlooking the Bouzanne valley, to present open-air theatre creations.

A Rich History Since 1959

The association originated from the Société Musicale et Lyrique founded in 1920, which later became the Cercle Lyrique before taking the name Manteau d'Arlequin. The first performances in the fortress date back to 1959. Since 1994, the festival has adopted a biennial rhythm, allowing the troupe to prepare an ambitious new creation over two years. In 2018, the festival celebrated its 30th edition with the play "Grabuge à la Forteresse".

Popular and Demanding Theatre

Each edition involves about sixty volunteer amateur actors from the village of Cluis and surrounding communes. Under the direction of professional directors, they work for several months on creating an original play, often a free adaptation of a major literary work. The troupe has staged adaptations of Shakespeare, Molière, Hugo, Melville, and many other classical and contemporary authors.

An Exceptional Setting

The Cluis-Dessous fortress offers a natural and grand setting. The medieval ruins, with their entrance gate flanked by towers, their 12th-century motte-and-bailey keep, and their 14th and 15th-century residential buildings, are transformed into an open-air theatre stage. Performances begin at 10 PM, at dusk, giving the show a unique and enchanting atmosphere.

A Complete Evening

The festival offers a complete experience to spectators. The inn opens its doors at 7 PM for a convivial meal before the show. Performances run for about ten evenings, allowing a large audience to discover the year's creation. A capacity of 285 seats ensures a precious proximity between actors and spectators.

Memorable Productions

Over the decades, Le Manteau d'Arlequin has presented ambitious and varied productions. Recent shows include Shakespeare's "The Tempest" (2020), Melville's "Moby Dick" (2024) with 40 actors and musicians on stage, and "Grabuge à la Forteresse" (2018), an original comedy inspired by cohabitation with the heritage preservation association.