For the second year, we invite you to Sujets à Vif, these unexepected encounters at the Jardin de la Vierge, between writing and performance, where artists decide to work and build together a totally new itinerary. Bridges are laid out, planned, imagined between performers and writers coming from different backgrounds, from different artistic playgrounds, different from those they usually know or practise. Eight premieres, eight short shows, eight questionings, eight explorations: you will find here, choreography, theatre, music, circus, performance, all disciplines the Sacd covers and to whom once again opportunity is given to exchange and to mingle. We've kept in mind the magic moments of 2008; we hungrily expect surprises to come in 2009. This year again, under the amazed eye of the Blessed Virgin statue peeping over the whole stage - when the host does not decide to discreetly cover her face - , artists and writers from France, but also from Canada, Belgium, Switzerland or Lebanon will confront their own worlds. The Festival d'Avignon and the Sacd build up together these moments of diversity and crossing-over. I wish to stress here the joy of a friendly and perfect collaboration made up of common desires and the pleasure to plan together and expect the unexpected.
Jacques Fansten, president of the Sacd

Programme A

Narcisses-0

commissioned from Kate Strong

From echo to ego, from Freudian abysses to jolts of humour, Kate Strong
opens up, loses herself, juggles with performance codes and reveals the
ironic and provocative image of an interpreter grappling with her own
narcissistic mechanisms.

author and director Coraline Lamaison, interpreters Kate Strong, Julien Andujar, composer Pierre Jodlowski, scenographer Marie Szersnovicz

and

Culture & administration

commissioned from Antonija Livingstone

Here is a performance by two North American artists who adopt Gertrude
Stein as a godmother. Their joie de vivre and their happiness in being
together on a stage will give us a clue to help us understand
everything that can make people feel about life on stage.

performer Antonija Livingstone, choreographer and dancer Jennifer Lacey