Sous le Chapito

Sous le Chapito: The Celebration of Clown and Circus in Bagnolet

Every summer, the town of Bagnolet transforms into the European capital of new clowning thanks to the Sous le Chapito festival, organized by the theater-school Le Samovar. For two weeks, under a big top tent set up in the heart of the city and in the performance halls of neighboring towns, artists from around the world fill the air with the laughter, tears, and emotions inherent to this unique art form.

Le Samovar: A Leading School and Theater

Founded in 1979, Le Samovar is a unique institution in France dedicated exclusively to the art of clowning. Recognized by the state as a training school, it is also a theater that programs clown, circus, and burlesque shows year-round. Located at 165 rue Pasteur, 93170 Bagnolet, it is the beating heart of a festival that spills out each summer into the neighboring towns of Les Lilas and Pré Saint-Gervais.

An Exceptional Program for All Audiences

Sous le Chapito offers an exceptionally rich program each year, combining stage shows, big top performances, street performances, practical workshops, film screenings, and artist encounters. The festival highlights the extraordinary effervescence in the contemporary world of clowning creation, welcoming both the guiding figures of new clowning and recent graduates from Europe's best circus schools.

The Big Top: A Venue for All Audacities

The emblematic element of the festival is, of course, the big top—chapitô—under which the most spectacular performances take place. This large, traveling big top, erected in Bagnolet's public space, is an invitation to journey and dream in itself. It hosts contemporary circus shows, aerial dance, poetic acrobatics, and high-flying clowning, in a festive and popular spirit accessible to all ages.

A Festival Rooted in the Seine-Saint-Denis Territory

Sous le Chapito is fully integrated into the cultural tradition of the Seine-Saint-Denis department, a territory of artistic creation and innovation. The festival contributes to the summer animation of the eastern Parisian towns and plays an essential role in democratizing access to circus and clown arts, with a broad program accessible to families and novice audiences.