Sens Interdits Festival

Sens Interdits: Urgent Theatre at the Heart of Lyon

Founded in 2009 by Patrick Penot, then co-director of the Théâtre des Célestins, the Sens Interdits Festival was born on the occasion of Lyon's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2013. What was intended as a one-off event has become an unmissable international theatre biennial, established in Lyon's cultural landscape for over fifteen years.

Theatre that Transcends Borders

Sens Interdits defines itself as a festival of "urgent theatre", deeply political and engaged. Every two years, in October, companies from around the world take over the theatres of the Lyon metropolitan area to present shows that question the major contemporary divides: wars, exiles, identity conflicts, struggles for human rights. The performances are staged in their original language, with surtitles, offering spectators a total immersion in unique artistic and cultural universes.

Ten Venues, Thirteen Shows, All Languages

The 9th edition in 2025 exemplified the festival's ambition: thirteen shows presented in ten venues across the metropolitan area, performed in almost all the world's languages. From the Théâtre des Célestins to the TNP in Villeurbanne, including the Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse and the Théâtre du Point du Jour, the festival reaches across the entire metropolitan territory.

Demanding Yet Accessible Programming

The strength of Sens Interdits lies in its ability to offer theatre of great artistic rigor while making it accessible to the widest possible audience. Ticket prices, ranging from free to €30, and the diversity of performance venues allow it to reach varied audiences. Meetings with artists, debates, and web radio broadcasts extend the theatrical experience.

Beyond the Festival

The Sens Interdits association is not limited to the October biennial. Throughout the year, it coordinates the touring of 80 theatre performances in France and internationally, publishes texts by playwrights, supports displaced and exiled artists, and develops intercultural cultural cooperation projects. In 2025, the festival marked a significant milestone with its first international expansion: Palestinian artists performing in Chile.