Théâtres de Bourbon

Theater in Heritage Settings

Born in 2019 from the intuition of a theater and Bourbonnais heritage enthusiast, Théâtres de Bourbon has established itself in just a few editions as a major cultural event in the Allier department. The concept is unique: exclusively using listed exceptional locations -- castles, manors, hermitages, estates -- to host high-quality theatrical performances. The natural and architectural setting then becomes a showcase that enhances the proposed texts.

A Repertoire Between Classics and Creation

Each year, the festival programs around forty performances during the first half of August. The repertoire blends great classics of theater -- Molière, Shakespeare, Pagnol, Romain Gary -- with original creations and contemporary plays. The participating troupes are all professional and seasoned, sharing a passionate and demanding approach to the dramatic arts. A carte blanche also opens the festival to young companies and emerging creation.

Eight Remarkable Sites in the Heart of Bourbonnais

The festival unfolds in eight heritage sites spread across different communes in the Allier, offering spectators the opportunity to discover often little-known architectural treasures: the Ermitage Saint-Sébastien in Charroux, the Manoir des Chapiats in Laféline, the Château de Charnes in Marigny, the Château des Aix in Meillard, the Château de Lachaise in Monétay-sur-Allier, the Domaine de la Quérye in Monteignet-sur-l'Andelot, the Château d'Avrilly in Trévol, and the Manoir des Noix in Veauce.

A Committed and Accessible Festival

Théâtres de Bourbon carries a strong ambition: to make theater accessible to an audience often distant from it in rural areas. The pricing policy reflects this commitment: every 6th ticket is free, admission is free for children under 12, and reduced rates are offered to people in precarious situations. The festival, rooted in its territory in the heart of France, also contributes to revitalizing the rural economy of Bourbonnais by attracting audiences from all over the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Driven by a team of passionate volunteers, the festival questions the human condition through texts, true to its founding mission: "to ask questions that move us to change society".