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| Théâtre des 13 Vents | |
|---|---|
| Name | Théâtre des 13 Vents |
| City | Montpellier |
| Country | France |
| Architect | Jean Nouvel |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Opened | 1974 |
| Type | National dramatic centre |
Théâtre des 13 Vents
Théâtre des 13 Vents is a national dramatic centre located in Montpellier, France, associated with contemporary theatre practice and experimental performance art while engaging with regional and international networks such as the Ministère de la Culture (France), the Institut Français, and the Festival d'Avignon. The institution operates within the cultural ecosystem of Occitanie (administrative region), collaborating with ensembles, companies, and venues including the Comédie-Française, Théâtre National de Bretagne, and the Maison de la Culture de Grenoble. It has hosted artists linked to movements represented by figures like Antonin Artaud, Samuel Beckett, and Peter Brook and institutions like the Centre National du Théâtre.
Founded in 1974 during decentralization policies promoted by the Ministère de la Culture (France) and influential in the wake of reforms associated with the André Malraux era, the theatre developed alongside regional cultural projects in Montpellier and the wider Languedoc-Roussillon area. Early directors engaged with avant-garde trajectories connected to producers from the Théâtre de la Ville, the Théâtre du Châtelet, and the Festival d'Automne à Paris, establishing repertory links with playwrights such as Bertolt Brecht, Jean Genet, and Eugène Ionesco. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the venue expanded partnerships with contemporary choreographers affiliated with Martha Graham, Pina Bausch, and institutions like the Centre National de la Danse. In the 21st century Théâtre des 13 Vents intensified co-productions with European networks including Archaos, La Comédie de Reims, and the European Theatre Convention while participating in transnational festivals like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and touring shows to the Biennale de Lyon.
The building reflects late 20th-century civic architecture influenced by practitioners such as Jean Nouvel and dialogues with municipal projects by planners from Le Corbusier's heritage and contemporary offices linked to OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture). It houses multiple rooms: a main auditorium adaptable for proscenium and thrust staging, a black box rehearsal space used by companies emerging from the Conservatoire de Montpellier, and technical workshops aligned with scenic designers trained at the École nationale supérieure des arts et techniques du théâtre (ENSATT). The site includes administrative offices, costume and set construction areas collaborating with artisans from the Ateliers du Théâtre National de Chaillot, and a public foyer programmed for exhibitions associated with the Centre Pompidou and the Musée Fabre. Accessibility upgrades coordinated with the European Disability Forum standards have been implemented alongside acoustic interventions inspired by projects at the Philharmonie de Paris.
Artistic leadership has featured directors who forged ties with practitioners such as Olivier Py, Claudia Stavisky, and companies like Collectif Etc and La Compagnie des Alpes; programming mixes contemporary playwrights—Caryl Churchill, Heiner Müller, Sarah Kane—with interdisciplinary proposals involving artists connected to Laurie Anderson, Tarek Atoui, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (London). The season schedules co-productions, residencies, and festivals that connect to the Festival d'Avignon, the Manifesta, and the Nantes Biennale, while commissioning work from authors represented by publishers such as Éditions Gallimard and experimental labels like Actes Sud. Outreach programs coordinate with conservatories including the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique and universities such as Université de Montpellier to integrate research on performance studies and dramaturgy shaped by scholars affiliated with the CNRS.
Theatre productions staged at the venue have included reinterpretations of works by William Shakespeare, Molière, and modernist repertoires from Anton Chekhov to August Strindberg, alongside premieres by contemporary playwrights like Wajdi Mouawad, Thomas Ostermeier, and KARIM SAÏD-style collectives. Collaborative projects have connected the theatre with international companies including Complicité, SITI Company, and Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, and with choreographers from the Béjart lineage and music ensembles such as Ensemble InterContemporain. The venue has co-produced touring works presented at the Berlin Theatertreffen, the Venice Biennale, and the Spoleto Festival.
Educational initiatives partner with institutions like the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Montpellier, local schools governed by the Académie de Montpellier, and social organizations such as Emmaüs and municipal cultural services of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole. Programs include youth workshops inspired by practitioners like Jacques Lecoq and Suzanne Linke, apprenticeship schemes linked to La Manufacture – Chaillot, and research residencies in collaboration with laboratories under the CNRS and the Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3. Community-facing activities also engage with heritage projects coordinated with the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles, intercultural festivals akin to Les Hivernales, and co-creation ventures with refugee arts networks associated with the UNHCR.
The institution and its productions have been recipients of regional and national distinctions such as prizes from the Ministère de la Culture (France), nominations to the Molière Awards, and mentions at the Prix du Syndicat de la Critique. Productions presented at the theatre have been acknowledged at international forums including the Europe Theatre Prize and selections for the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres honorees among associated artists. Many resident directors and collaborators have been laureates of grants from bodies like the Fonds SACD and fellowships administered by the Institut Français.
Category:Theatres in Montpellier