This theater perched at the very top of old Nice is an institution in itself in our city. It is the largest municipal theater in Nice with its 260 seats.
The Francis Gag Theater attracts a large audience, including over 30,000 spectators per year for around 150 performances, offering a very eclectic choice: plays, readings, poetry, and Niçoise folklore.
The works programmed until the end of 2015 follow two main themes: creation and tradition, two themes that seem contradictory at first, but, and this is the theater’s interest, they make opposites possible.
The 2015 season will conclude with Niçoise traditions, Nice the Beautiful, and the wonderful Christmas tale by Francis Gag. Before that, the theater will have dominated the scene with various and diverse works.
The theater is an act of the heart, by people with heart, a direct link between the audience and the actors. “You cannot cheat here,” a great actor once said. The theater is real. This hall is a setting, that of Nice, in this old city where traditions are still alive.
The Ciamada Nissarda will present Lu Fraire Bartela, a musical comedy in Niçoise by Jouan Nicola on September 27th, a free show as a way to welcome the audience and thank the loyal patrons of this venue.
In October, there will be two major events: on the 10th with Nilda Fernandez and the following day the Fésta d’Occitània, a tribute for the 230th anniversary of Rancher’s birth. Then, still in October, from the 12th to the 18th, it will be theater week. An event to invite people to dare to step through the doors of a theater and discover its magic, the three knocks and this intimacy between the audience and the performers and actors.
A sort of one-man show with Pascal Terrien, here as the conductor, arranging the musicians and choristers. In fact, you are the musicians and choristers. He speaks directly to the audience, the violins soar, the choirs are silent, and he directs Carmen masterfully, with a maestro’s hand.
The Francis Gag Theater does not forget its charitable dimension: L’Escaramoucha adapted from Chekhov’s The Bear and Lu Doui Vielh by Francis Gag with Vitourina and Titoun will be performed for the benefit of the cancer league. Humor isn’t forgotten with Sian d’Aqui and its fits of laughter, theatrical improvisation, and music also have their places. A concert given by the visually impaired. Les Manca will present two shows.
The association L’Envol, as every year, will offer us its show, a year-long work, in 2015, a journey of dance and songs across Europe. These four months leading up to Christmas and the end of the year are very rich with about thirty shows for all audiences.
From tragedy to comedy, from laughter to tears, from traditions to creation, emotion, heart’s impulses, soul’s questions, the I am or am not, Shakespeare is on the program, nothing has been omitted to thrill the spectator, the lover of theater and of life.
Thierry Jan.
