Grand Ouest Festival

Grand Ouest Festival: The Showcase for Regional Artistic Creation

Created in 2021 by the Quai CDN Angers Pays de la Loire, the Grand Ouest Festival (or GO Festival) is an artistic highlight that opens the theater season each autumn. This multidisciplinary festival showcases contemporary creation from the Grand Ouest of France, encompassing the regions of Pays de la Loire, Brittany, Normandy, and sometimes further afield.

Theater, Dance, Circus, Music, and Performance

The Grand Ouest Festival's program covers all performing arts: theater, contemporary dance, circus, music, and performance. Each edition features about twenty shows with around 80 performances, encounters, and debates, spread over about fifteen days. The festival highlights the work of artists from the Grand Ouest, demonstrating the richness and diversity of the regional artistic scene.

A Festival That Spreads Throughout the Urban Area

Beyond the two theaters of Le Quai — the Le Quai CDN theater and the Centre national de danse contemporaine (CNDC) directed by Noé Soulier — the festival takes over several venues in the Angers urban area. Up to 8 partner venues host performances, allowing it to reach a large and diverse audience and to introduce contemporary creation in unexpected places.

Emerging Discoveries and Established Artists

The Grand Ouest Festival places significant importance on emerging performances and young companies, while also programming established artists from the regional and national scene. Spectators are invited to meet the artists, participate in debates, and engage in sharing sessions that enrich the experience of each performance. The festival is also an opportunity to celebrate the opening of the season in a festive and friendly atmosphere.