The star invitation of 76^e Avignon Festival – the last edition concocted by Olivier Py before he gave way to Tiago Rodrigues – is unquestionably Kirill Serebrennikov. The filmmaker and playwright, in trouble with Russian power, will present in the main courtyard of the Popes’ Palace, from July 7 to 14, “The Black Monk”, a flamboyant and rock’n’roll adaptation of a short story by Chekhov. The story of a man torn between his love for a young woman and the influence of an evil ghost, told from four different angles.

River shows

No Avignon without river shows… We could trust Olivier Py to stick to it. In the very place where, as a young man, he had created “La Servante”, the gymnasium of the Lycée Aubanel, our director-poet will create a fresco of ten hours, “Ma Jeunesse exaltée”, personified by an insolent Harlequin (from 8 to 15). Another great gesture, in thirteen hours and seven parts, is the complete theatrical tale by Simon Falguières, “Nid de ashes”, which confronts the world of dreams and the real world, both threatened and seeking to unite to save themselves. (at the Fabrica from 9 to 16).

Three shows will start this same July 7, giving an idea of ​​the eclecticism of the programming: “In transit”, adapted from the novel by Anna Seghers by the Iranian Amir Reza Koohestani (gymnasium of the Mistral high school, until the 14th); “Iphigénie” by Tiago Rodrigues, directed by Anne Théron (at the Opéra Grand Avignon, from 7 to 13) and “Sans tambour”, the new musical UFO by Samuel Achache (at the Théâtre des Carmes, from 7 to 13) .

In the days that follow, Elise Vigier will stage “Anaïs Nin at the mirror”, a text by Agnès Desarthe (Benoit XII theatre, from 9 to 16), Marie Vialle, “In this garden that we loved” according to Pascal Quignard and Simeon Pease Cheney (cloister of the Célestins, from 9 to 16) and the Swedish Sofia Adrian Jupither, the last piece by Lars Norén, “Solitaire” (Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, 15 to 24).

The classical repertoire is not forgotten: Shakespeare will be doubly honored in the second part of the festival, with “La Tempesta” by Turinese Alessandro Serra (Opéra du Grand Avignon, 17 to 23) and “Richard II” by Christophe Rauck, interpreted by the royal Micha Lescot (school gymnasium Aubanel, from 20 to 26).

Wind of freshness

As for dance, a breath of fresh air will blow over Avignon with a whole generation of young talents. Starting with the Belgian Jan Martens who is offered the main courtyard (from 19 to 24) with “Near Future”, a major piece for fifteen dancers from the Flanders ballet. In its stride, we will quote pell-mell, Oona Doherty and her “Lady Magma”, the Lebanese Ali Chahrour or Maud Le Pladec. As for Emmanuel Eggermont, close to the late Raimund Hoghe, Miet Warlop at the crossroads of disciplines, and Dada Masilo, they will give news of the changing world.

Two popular choreographers, Amala Dianor and Marco Da Silva Ferreira, will join forces for the South Africans of Via Katlehong while François Chaignaud will enchant the nights of the festival in duet with Geoffroy Jourdain. We also won’t miss the meetings at the Jardin de la Vierge with Dalila Belaza, Mellina Boubetra, Vincent Dupont or Erwan Ha Kyoon Larcher.

Everything will end in poems, songs and pompoms. Kae Tempest, poet, writer and “gender fluid” slammer from London, will be the final guest in the Court of Honor (July 26). While Olivier Py will put on the rhinestone sheath of his double, Miss Knife, for a cabaret with ” her sisters “ : Angélique Kidjo and the Ukrainian Dahk Daughters.