Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival
A month of amateur theatre at the Kursaal in Hellemmes
2026
About Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival
Every autumn since 1952, La Baraque Foraine has brought amateur theatre troupes from across the Hauts-de-France region to Hellemmes for a month of performances at the Kursaal. The programme features a diverse mix of comedies, dramas, storytelling, and classic theatre, supported by the Fédération Nationale des Compagnies de Théâtre et d'Animation (FNCTA), the Nord department, and the European Metropolis of Lille.
Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival — edition 2026
From September 8th to 27th, 2026, eighteen amateur troupes from the Hauts-de-France region will take turns on stage at the Kursaal in Hellemmes. This year's edition focuses on characters who, whether facing the violence of history or personal trials, choose to resist and pass on their stories. Works by Brecht, Duras, Prévert, and Teulé share the stage with original creations from local companies, blending comedy, drama, and poetry. The festival concludes on Sunday, September 27th, with a special appearance by an author.
Highlights Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival 2026
- Eighteen shows in twenty days, from September 8th to 27th, at the Kursaal in Hellemmes
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht performed by La Troupe D'siré, Tuesday, September 8th
- Savannah Bay by Marguerite Duras performed by the Dumme Kuh company, Friday, September 18th
- Closing ceremony on Sunday, September 27th, with The Girls with Yellow Hands by La Baraque Foraine, in the presence of author Michel Bellier
Programme Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival 2026
Tuesday, September 8th
- 8:30 PM — The Caucasian Chalk Circle · La Troupe D'siré (humanist fable by Bertolt Brecht, 1h40)
Thursday, September 10th
- 8:30 PM — Is It Still Scary? · Le Théâtre du Jeudi (dark humor by Jonathan Swift and Thomas Bernhard, 1h10)
Friday, September 11th
- 8:30 PM — The Sister of Jesus Christ · L'Escapade (choral suspense by Oscar De Summa, 1h30)
Saturday, September 12th
- 8:30 PM — Possession · Zone Poème (theater and dance by Mélodie Lasselin and Simon Capelle, 1h00)
Sunday, September 13th
- 5:00 PM — Aging Standing Tall · Le Théâtre à Coulisses (social chronicle by Carole Prieur, 1h15)
Tuesday, September 15th
- 8:30 PM — Obaldi Obaldia · Les Transarciens (humor and poetry by René de Obaldia, 1h40)
Wednesday, September 16th
- 7:30 PM — Tales That Resemble Us · Dire Lire (tales and stories, various authors, 1h00)
Thursday, September 17th
- 8:30 PM — The Office Restrooms · Les Tricoteuses (zany thriller by Tristan Choiseul, 1h00)
Friday, September 18th
- 8:30 PM — Savannah Bay · Dumme Kuh (psychological drama by Marguerite Duras, 1h00)
Saturday, September 19th
- 8:30 PM — The Suicide Shop · Le Maringouin (macabre humor by Jean Teulé, 1h40)
Sunday, September 20th
- 5:00 PM — Mission Molière · Le Manteau d'Arlequin (classical theater by Gaël Dubreuil and Camille German, 1h20)
Tuesday, September 22nd
- 8:30 PM — Clac · Le Théâtre d'à Côté (social drama by Julie Bauduin, 1h30, ages 14+)
Wednesday, September 23rd
- 7:30 PM — The Church in the Air · Jean-Marie Balembois (reading-performance of Jacques Prévert, 1h00)
Thursday, September 24th
- 8:30 PM — The Dinner of the Beasts · Le Théâtre au Coin du Feu (dramatic comedy by Vahé Katché, 1h40)
Friday, September 25th
- 8:30 PM — Bluebeard's Wives · La Cie de l'Ours qui Bêche (dramatic tale by Lisa Guez, 1h20)
Saturday, September 26th
- 6:00 PM — Conversation with My Mother · Théâtre sur Cour (family chronicle by Santiago Carlos Oves, 1h00)
- 8:00 PM — Brothers and Sisters · Topel Théâtre (2 comedies by Jean-Michel Hubert and Jean-Marie Piemme, 2h00)
Sunday, September 27th
- 4:00 PM — The Girls with Yellow Hands · La Baraque Foraine (social chronicle by Michel Bellier, 1h30) — festival closing, with the author in attendance
Prices Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival 2026
Practical information — Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival
Performances take place at the Kursaal, located at 135 rue Roger Salengro in Hellemmes (Mairie d'Hellemmes metro station). The box office opens thirty minutes before each show; tickets can be reserved via the FNCTA Hauts-de-France online booking system.
Where does it take place — Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival
Northern Countries Amateur Theatre Festival in brief
Other festivals near Hellemmes
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