Posts Tagged ‘Avignon Festival & Cies Le Off’

Around Avignon with The Garage International

Friday, July 18th, 2008

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Situated on the left bank of the Rhône the fortified city of Avignon is well known for its summer festivals. Its architecture reflects its papal history and is well known for its Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) which dates from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Festival d’Avignon (the official festival) started by Jean Vilar in 1947 is in its 62nd year and parallels the Edinburgh Fringe in its years of devotion to the arts.

Avignon’s other festival is Avignon Festival & Cies Le OFF where The Garage International (TGI) are currently performing. From street performances to dance, theatre, music, children’s shows and comedy and traditional to off beat, regardless of language, Avignon Le OFF embraces all. As Shakti, who is TGI’s Artistic Director, says “the real difference in the festival at Avignon compared to the others is that the whole city and culture become the festival. And I think that is important for the artists too. You can learn from it as well as communicate your art”.

Images courtesy of The Garage International

Shakti
Artistic Director
The Garage International

Artistic Director
Tokyo Fringe Festival

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Le OFF – Avignon 2008

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

The Garage International

Avignon – ancienne ville fortifiée aussi qu’ancienne résidence officielle du Pape. Au mois de juillet chaque année elle se transforme en ville d’accueil pour toutes sortes de festival.Avignon is a lovely ancient city surrounded by a wall where the Pope used to live.

Today it is the vibrant centre of the Avignon Festivals in July. The city comes alive with artists and musicians parading around in costume, busking and handing out leaflets. The audience is here for the festival and to see shows.

Lily, the Garage Cat

Les rues débordent d’activité, d’artistes costumés et de musiciens ambulants et des prospectus offrent un choix étourdissant de spéctacles.

On y vient pour l’ambiance de la rue et pour voir des spéctacles bien sûr ; mais puisque c’est La France, on y vient aussi pour la cuisine et le bon vin !

Le marché deborde de fruits, de légumes, d’olives et de fromages de la région. Dans le quartier du marché on voit affiché partout des détails de spéctacles séduisants.

This is France where people enjoy food and wine as part of the culture and art. Freshly baked bread, olives, wines, cheeses, fruits and vegetables are abundant and the Central Market is full of food, people and, of course, posters!

Posterboard

‘The Garage International’- situé à l’Hôtel Mercure, Pont d’Avignon est le seule rendez-vous étranger au festival. Notre but est de présenter des artistes internationaux non-français. Le Garage International joue donc un rôle petit mais néanmoins important dans le festival.

The Garage International is the only non French venue in the whole festival and we are located in the Hotel Mercure Pont d’Avignon. We are there mainly to introduce international non-French artists to take part in the festival. TGI has a small but important role in the festival.

Bienvenue en Avignon.
Bienvenue a La Garage International!

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