Located in the heart of the old town, the only municipal theater bears the name of the person who initiated the spread of performing arts and maintained the tradition of the “nissarte” language, perpetuated by his grandson Jean-Luc.
A complete complex divided into three halls: the traditional one with 250 seats, complemented over the years by a 100m2 space for local amateur companies and an intimate 30m2 lounge for readings and workshops.
All of this is done with the aim of accomplishing its mission as a spreader of culture, concerned with connecting tradition and modernity.
A task that is not easy but essential if one wants to maintain tradition while also engaging a new audience.
This year’s programming is rich and varied, mixing both professional artists and productions by amateur companies. The season will be inaugurated on Friday, the 12th, and Saturday, the 13th, with the show by Jean-Félix Lalanne: “En voie de guérison”.
In addition to a significant season, 140 evenings will be organized by Jean-Pierre Ballay (the artistic director), and the Theater also hosts festivals.
Around International Women’s Day, the festival “Femmes en scène” is evocative enough not to need an explanation. It will be followed, during the same period, by the theatrical clowns’ festival “L’Uzine à Gag”.
For amateur theater, “FESTHEA” will take place in April, while in autumn there will be the Nice humor festival with “Les fourrés de rire”.
The activities for young schoolchildren are another equally interesting chapter, with more than 2,000 students welcomed every year.
The humanist dreamer that Francis Gag was must be thinking that his work is being properly continued and that there is no need for lighting when one is already in the spotlight.
