Festival des Insolites

Originality and boldness at the heart of performing arts

Created in 2022 at the Les Quinconces cultural center in Vals-les-Bains, the Festival des Insolites has quickly established itself as an atypical cultural event in Ardèche. For two weeks in March, the festival invites the public to “dive into unique artistic adventures, where originality and boldness are on the program”. The program is distinguished by its taste for the unexpected, the offbeat, and the surprising, offering shows that escape traditional categories.

A multidisciplinary and unclassifiable program

The Festival des Insolites mixes theater, circus, dance, music, and visual arts in creations that challenge the codes of performing arts. The invited companies offer unique formats: 9-hour continuous marathon theater plays, immersive shows, participatory performances, offbeat cabarets, and unusual sensory experiences. Each edition brings together five to eight companies that present original creations throughout the evenings.

Memorable shows

Among the shows that have marked previous editions are proposals as varied as “Fermez les yeux, vous y verrez plus clair” by the duo Ella & Pitr (theater and visual arts), “Amalgames” by La Cie Singulière (circus), “Kermesse” by Collectif La Cabale (theater), “Denise Jardinière vous invite chez elle” by Thibaut Boidin, “Une Soupe Paysanne” by Groupe Tonne, and “Les 12 Travelos d'Hercule” in an unusual cabaret. Workshops and meetings with artists complete the program.

A cultural gem in the heart of the spa town

The Les Quinconces cultural center, located at 3 avenue Claude Expilly in Vals-les-Bains, offers an ideal setting for this festival. The Salle Volane and the theater's spaces host the shows in an intimate atmosphere conducive to artistic discoveries. Vals-les-Bains, a spa town nestled in the Volane valley, adds an extra touch of charm to this spring cultural event.