NAVA Festival

A theatrical laboratory in the heart of Limouxin

The NAVA Festival — acronym for Nouveaux Auteurs dans la Vallée de l'Aude — was born in 1999 from the initiative of playwright Jean-Marie Besset, a major figure in contemporary French theatre. Located at the Château de Flandry, a historic residence nestled in a wooded park on the heights of Limoux, the festival has established itself as a unique theatrical creation laboratory in France. Its primary mission: to test original works or adaptations on stage, presented for the first time in French or on the boards, serving as a launchpad for future productions.

Prestigious actors throughout the editions

Since its creation, the NAVA Festival has hosted leading actors and directors. Among the artists who have graced the Château de Flandry with their presence: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Niels Arestrup, Annie Girardot, Philippe Caubère, Claude Aufaure, and many others. These exceptional artists have contributed to making NAVA an unmissable event for lovers of demanding theatre, in an intimate setting that fosters encounters between artists and spectators.

Creations, readings, and cinema

NAVA's programming is resolutely focused on contemporary creation. Each edition presents new creations — plays performed for the first time — performance readings where texts come to life in experimental formats, and established shows from recognized productions. Meetings with authors and actors allow the public to delve into the creative process. The festival also includes film screenings, expanding the artistic scope beyond theatre alone. The 2024 edition celebrated the festival's 25th anniversary with "25 Years of NAVA Cinema Encounters".

The Château de Flandry, the festival's setting

The Château de Flandry, located on Chemin de Saint-Andrieu in Limoux, is the beating heart of the festival. This 19th-century residence, surrounded by a shaded park, offers an ideal setting for open-air performances in the castle courtyard and indoor shows in the interior spaces. The atmosphere of the place — elegant and relaxed at the same time — contributes to the festival's unique identity, where spectators mingle with actors between performances in an atmosphere of an artistic residency open to the public.