Festival OFF des Marionnettes

The OFF: Puppetry Accessible to All

Born in the wake of the Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes, the Festival OFF is the free, popular, and open-air component of this international event. It takes place simultaneously with the official festival (the 'In') during odd-numbered years, transforming the streets, squares, and neighborhoods of Charleville-Mézières into open-air puppet stages. The OFF attracts tens of thousands of spectators who discover a variety of accessible artistic forms for free.

500 Performances by 80 Companies

Each edition of the Festival OFF brings together around 80 independent companies for over 500 performances spread over ten days. The shows take over public squares and pedestrian streets as well as neighborhood halls, social centers, and schoolyards. The OFF in the streets offers parades, street corner shows, and spontaneous performances, while the OFF in venues offers a more structured program in intimate spaces.

An Organization Rooted in the Neighborhoods

The Festival OFF is coordinated by the MCL Ma Bohème (Maison de la Culture et des Loisirs), in conjunction with the city's social centers: Centre Social Animation Ronde Couture, CSC André Dhôtel, and Centre Social de Manchester. This decentralized organization ensures that puppetry thrives in all neighborhoods of Charleville-Mézières, including priority areas, promoting cultural access for all audiences.

A Spirit of Freedom and Discovery

The OFF is the space for all experiments. Emerging companies, independent artists, and creators from around the world present free, inventive, and often unexpected forms: street puppetry, object theater, participatory shows, performances for young audiences, and site-specific creations. It is a space for discovery, meeting, and conviviality, where the public moves freely from one show to another in a festive and popular atmosphere.

An Essential Complement to the Official Festival

The Festival OFF is inseparable from the Festival Mondial. Together, they make Charleville-Mézières the world capital of puppetry for ten days, with an unparalleled artistic offering: nearly 200 companies in total, hundreds of daily shows, and an audience comprising families, enthusiasts, professionals, and curious visitors from all walks of life.