Lever de Rideau

Lever de Rideau: The Springboard for Young Talents in Annecy

Lever de Rideau is a performing arts festival entirely dedicated to the young talents of the Annecy area. Organized every May by the association Les Agitateurs de Rêves, it takes place at the Podium de Poisy, a performance venue located on the outskirts of Annecy. For three days, hundreds of students and young artists take the stage to offer performances of theater, dance, music, and performing arts under professional conditions.

The Legacy of Joseph Paléni

The festival continues a pioneering initiative launched in 1990 by Joseph Paléni, who organized youth theater gatherings in Annecy. Les Agitateurs de Rêves have taken over and developed this concept by creating Lever de Rideau in 2022, with the aim of giving young people a demanding yet supportive space for artistic expression. The festival is thus the heir to a long tradition of supporting school and associative performing arts in the Annecy area.

A Festival By and For Youth

Lever de Rideau brings together students from about ten schools and associations in the region: Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional d'Annecy, Lycée Baudelaire, Lycée des Glières, Lycée Gabriel Fauré, IME Henri Wallon, Lycée ISETA, Collège La Salle, Collège Le Semnoz, Collège La Mandallaz, Collège Les Balmettes, Association Les Étincelles, and Musical Arts Academy. Each group prepares an original creation under the guidance of teachers and associated artists.

Professional Conditions for Young Artists

One of Lever de Rideau's strengths is offering young participants a professional stage experience. The Podium de Poisy, a fully equipped performance venue, allows students to discover the backstage of a cultural event: sound, lighting, stage management, scene management. Participants interact with performing arts professionals and benefit from collective warm-ups led by Conservatory students.

A Rich and Varied Program

The performances cover a wide spectrum of performing arts: theater plays, contemporary choreography, musical performances, interdisciplinary creations. Each show is an immersion into a unique world, driven by the passion and inventiveness of emerging young artists. Evening concerts complete the program.