Les Scènes du Jura - Season

Les Scènes du Jura: A National Stage at the Heart of the Department

Created on July 1, 1997, by the merger of the municipal theaters of Lons-le-Saunier and Dole, Les Scènes du Jura is a unique National Stage that radiates throughout the Jura department. Under the presidency of Claire Chaton Aubey and the direction of Cédric Fassenet, the institution carries an ambitious artistic project titled “Faire corps” (To Become One), which aims to connect the women and men who live, act, and create in the territory.

A Unique Network of Venues

The distinctive feature of Les Scènes du Jura lies in its exceptional territorial network. The institution has four main venues:

• Théâtre de Lons-le-Saunier: An Italian-style theater with 550 seats, rebuilt in 1903 after a fire.
• Théâtre de Dole: 400 seats.
• La Commanderie (Dole): 1,100 seats, for large-scale productions.
• La Fabrique (Dole): 200 seats, a space for creation and community engagement.

In addition to these permanent venues, there are also spaces in Champagnole, Poligny, Salins-les-Bains, Morez, Saint-Amour, and other towns, forming a total of about twenty different performance spaces per season, in both urban and rural areas.

A Demanding Multidisciplinary Program

Each season, Les Scènes du Jura offers around 55 artistic proposals and 105 performances, covering a wide spectrum of disciplines:

• Theater: From revisited classics to contemporary writing.
• Dance: Contemporary dance and innovative choreographic forms.
• Circus: Contemporary circus and movement arts.
• Music: Concerts, musical creations, and musical performances.
• Hybrid Forms: Performances blending multiple disciplines.

Season Openings: “Jours de fête” (Festival Days)

Every year in September, Les Scènes du Jura inaugurates its new season with “Jours de fête”, festive and free events held in the theaters of Lons-le-Saunier and Dole. These season openings, in collaboration with invited companies, set the tone for the upcoming cultural year and allow the public to discover the program in a friendly atmosphere.

A Major Cultural Player in the Region

With a total budget of 2.5 million euros and a team of 27 employees, Les Scènes du Jura is the leading cultural institution in the department. The institution serves a population of 258,600 inhabitants and develops cultural mediation, artistic education, and support for contemporary creation activities throughout the year.