First time

What if I don't understand anything? Will I feel like I belong? Am I dressed correctly?

Faced with these questions that we have all asked ourselves, the Festival works to make theatre accessible to all. The "Fisrt time" project was born out of the desire to answer these questions, to respond to a desire to feel at home or to make coming to a performance more comfortable.

Artistic and cultural education around Le Soldat et la Ballerine at La FabricA, November 2022 © Thomas Bohl

The "First time" project

How do I get there? How to choose? How to prepare?

Coming to the Festival d'Avignon for the first time is an experience you'll remember for a long time, a unique adventure that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. We want the Festival to welcome as wide an audience as possible, accompanying them in their questions, doubts and desires, in an approach that encourages curiosity, discovery and openness to the world around us.

See shows accessible for the first time

A year-long program

In connection with the artistic and cultural education programmes, the aim is to introduce the performing arts through workshops, a presentation of the programme, guided tours and access to the Festival's shows.

The Festival works on numerous projects that very often involve a first time for the audiences taking part.
A few examples: the À la jeunesse les micros project, the J'y suis j'en suis project or the digital project with Avenir 84. All the projects can be found on the page actions.

Accompanied by our "first-time" mediators, we offer you a number of opportunities to put together your own itinerary. Here is a non-exhaustive list:

  • Behind-the-scenes visits to a Festival venue

  • Pre-show workshops

  • Sharing your feelings about the show

  • Workshop on the Festival archives at the BnF (themed workshop possible depending on the year's themes)

  • Scavenger hunt around Christophe Raynaud de Lage's show photos at La FabricA

  • Meeting with Festival teams

  • Meet the artists at the Café des idées

  • Attend a live radio broadcast/recording

You can also add these events to your show bookings:

  • A guided tour of the history of the Festival with Clément Demontis

  • A screening of a Territoires Cinématographiques film at Utopia

  • A visit to an exhibition at the Maison Jean Vilar

  • A visit to an exhibition at La Collection Lambert

The "Première fois" notebook

The "First Time" booklet

Designed for everyone, the notebook lets you immerse yourself in the history and experience of the Festival, and discover the themes of the shows through games, quizzes and practical tips. The booklet is available at all Festival venues and can be downloaded in PDF format.