Upon the bridge between past and present, between languages spoken and unspoken, stands the enduring Festival d’Avignon, a famed gathering of theatremakers from around the world in a stunning medieval French town. Apart from marking its 79th birthday, this year’s edition (July 5-26) promises to strike a particular chord with theatremakers seeking both survival and celebration, according to a statement by festival director Tiago Rodrigues.
While “essential values are today threatened” in the global political landscape, Rodrigues writes, the Festival d’Avignon “has always been at the crossroads of celebration, the public’s encounter with the performing arts, and civic engagement.”
Across the 22 days, the fest will host more than 300 events, including shows, lectures, debates, readings, and screenings, at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palais des Papes, the fest’s permanent…