Mai'Scènes Festival

Mai'Scènes: The Celebration of School and Amateur Theatre in Saint-Dizier

Since 1988, the Mai'Scènes festival has brought the city of Saint-Dizier to life with the rhythm of theatre. Organized by the Alternative Culturelle association, chaired by Annie Jeandot and co-directed by Carole Brossard, this festival was born from an initiative by teachers from La Noue school, who wished to introduce students to theatrical practice under professional stage conditions.

A Unique Festival in Grand Est

Mai'Scènes holds a unique place in the cultural landscape of the Grand Est region. Entirely dedicated to school and amateur theatre, each year it allows elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as amateur troupes from all over Champagne-Ardenne — Ardennes, Meuse, Marne, and Haute-Marne — to perform on real stages, supervised by the professional technicians of Les Trois Scènes in Saint-Dizier.

Participants perform both classic texts and contemporary creations, from adaptations of Marivaux or Shakespeare to original plays written by the troupes themselves. Some performances highlight inclusive companies, welcoming artists with disabilities, such as the troupes from Bois L'Abbesse or Amiph d'Ancerville.

Three Venues, One Passion

The festival takes over three emblematic venues in the area:

• The Théâtre de Saint-Dizier — A magnificent 19th-century Italian-style theatre, listed as a historical monument, with 295 seats. It is the heart of the festival, hosting evening performances and the opening show.
• The Centre socioculturel de Saint-Dizier — During the day, it hosts performances by elementary school classes, in a setting adapted for younger audiences.
• La Forgerie de Wassy — A renovated venue with modern equipment, it occasionally hosts performances, extending the festival's reach beyond Saint-Dizier.

A Professional Opening Show

Each edition opens with a professional show for all audiences, offered free of charge to festival-goers. This inaugural moment sets the tone for the theatrical fortnight and allows the public to discover an invited professional company. In 2025, the FI Solo Company offered a show combining clowning and music for a flyer distribution, on the Saturday preceding the festival, Place des Halles, and in 2024, the Eko Batucada group from Nancy set Place des Halles ablaze with a Brazilian percussion performance. In 2024, during the inauguration evening, the festival presentation was followed by the play Hamlet in 30 minutes by the Bruitquicourt company.

Transmission at the Heart of the Project

The Alternative Culturelle association, approved by the National Education, works throughout the year in the department's schools to raise students' awareness of theatrical practice. The association's volunteers lead discovery workshops in classrooms, support teachers in setting up artistic projects, and prepare young actors for public performance conditions. Rehearsals intensify over the months, culminating in the May performances, a true achievement of long-term work.

A Popular and Friendly Event

Mai'Scènes is, above all, a celebration of theatre where the public and artists come together in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Performances are accessible without reservation, with sessions at 6 PM and 8:30 PM depending on the day. With approximately 2,500 spectators per edition, the festival has built a loyal intergenerational audience, from families coming to applaud their children to amateur theatre enthusiasts. Mai'Scènes establishes itself as an unmissable festival in the Grand Est, bearing witness to the vitality of theatrical practice in school and associative settings.