Les Semaines Théâtrales

A theatre festival at Château Mollack

Les Semaines Théâtrales takes place every autumn at Château Mollack, located at 6 avenue de Beaupré in Marquise, Pas-de-Calais. The festival was founded in 2005 by La Fabrique de Théâtre. In 2021, the association En Bonnes Compagnies took over the organization, and in 2023, a new, predominantly female artistic team took charge.

The format

The festival runs for about ten days, usually towards the end of October. Each evening features a performance, typically starting at 7:30 PM, alongside an exhibition that opens on the first night and remains in the hall for the duration of the festival. Doors open one hour before each show. Most performances are followed by a discussion with the artists in the hall. The lineup includes theatre, dramatic readings, object theatre, and musical theatre.

Open stage and writing workshop

Two participatory events are staples of the festival. The open stage at Mollack offers each participant ten minutes to perform—whether it's a text, a song, a piece of music, slam poetry, or choreography—upon registration. It operates on a "pay-what-you-can" basis, with a potluck-style snack during the intermission. The two-day writing workshop is open to teenagers and adults aged 15 and up; registration is handled by the Marquise media library.

Recent editions

The 18th edition took place from October 21 to 28, 2023, focusing on ecofeminism. The 19th edition ran from October 18 to 26, 2024, exploring women's work. The 20th edition, from October 17 to 25, 2025, is themed "Women's Journeys" and features the photography exhibition Adolescence by Nazaré Milheiro, the production A Love Suprême by En Bonnes Compagnies, William’s Slam by Franche Connexion, Tant pis pour King Kong by Maniaka Théâtre, Si j’étais un arbre read by Catherine Zambon, La Sueur des femmes by Cie La Futaie, and Je rêvais d’un autre monde by Cie La Comedia.

The organizer

En Bonnes Compagnies is a non-profit association established in 2019, based at Château Mollack. It also functions as a theatre company that tours its own productions, including Les Pitres Affables, Les Papotages de Thérèse, Monologues en plein champs, Camaïeu de Bleus, and A Love Suprême, and organizes a second event in the spring called Les Préludes. The festival is supported by the City of Marquise, the Terre des 2 Caps community of communes, the Pas-de-Calais department, the Hauts-de-France region, and the State.