Les Hivernales du Festival d'Anjou

Les Hivernales: The Festival d'Anjou all year round

Launched in 2018 on the initiative of Nicolas Briançon, then artistic director of the Festival d'Anjou, Les Hivernales extend the festival's theatrical season beyond the summer. The first edition, programmed from October 2018 to May 2019, offered seven shows and thirteen performances which attracted 7,500 spectators to the Grand-Théâtre d'Angers.

An Italian-style setting

Les Hivernales take place at the Grand-Théâtre d'Angers, a magnificent Italian-style theater located place du Ralliement, in the heart of the city. This historic theater, with its balconies and intimate atmosphere, offers an ideal setting to appreciate theater in all its splendor. The proximity between the stage and the audience creates a unique experience, very different from the open-air performances of the summer festival.

Complementary programming

While the summer Festival d'Anjou favors large outdoor stages and heritage sites, Les Hivernales focus on intimacy and proximity. The programming mixes comedies, dramas, revisited classical plays, and contemporary creations, performed by artists from the French scene. Each season offers between five and ten shows spread over several months.

An initiative of Anjou Théâtre

Les Hivernales are produced by Anjou Théâtre, the Public Interest Group for Cultural Cooperation that also manages the Festival d'Anjou. This structure, created in 2009, brings together the Department of Maine-et-Loire and the host towns around a common mission: to promote live theater in Anjou throughout the year.