| Unlike most provincial festivals of international renown, the Festival d'Avignon is dominated by theatre rather than classical music, though there's also plenty of that, as well as lectures, exhibitions and dance. It uses the city's great buildings as backdrops to performances, and takes place every year for three weeks from the second week in July. During festival time everything stays open late and everything gets booked up; there can be up to 200,000 visitors, and getting around or doing anything normal becomes virtually impossible. Originally created in 1947 by actor-director Jean Vilar, over the years programmes have included theatrical interpretations as diverse as Molière, Euripides and Chekhov, performed by companies from across Europe. While big-name directors (Jacques Lasalle, Alain Françon) draw the largest crowds to the main venue, the Cour d'Honneur in the Palais des Papes, there's more than enough variety in all the smaller productions, dance performances and lectures to keep everyone sufficiently entertained. In addition to the introduction of new works staged by lesser-known directors and theatre troupes, each year the festival also spotlights a different culture, which in the past have ranged from showings of the Hindi epic Ramayana to the debut of THEOREM (Theatres from the East and from the West), a European cultural venture designed to bring together the two halves of Europe on the stage. The main festival programme, with details of how to book, is available from the second week in May from the Bureau du Festival d'Avignon, 20 rue du portail Boquier, 84000 Avignon (tel 04.90.27.66.50, www.festival-avignon.com), or from the tourist office. Ticket prices are reasonable (between €16 and €33) and go on sale from the second week in June. As well as phone sales (11am–7pm; tel 04.90.14.14.14), they can be bought from FNAC shops in all major French cities. During the festival, tickets are available until 4pm for the same day's performances. The Festival Off programme is available from the end of June from Avignon Public Off BP5, 75521 Paris Cedex 11 (tel 01.48.05.01.19, www.avignon-off.org). During the festival, the office is in the Conservatoire de Musique on place du Palais. Tickets prices range from €9 to €17 and a Carte Public Adhérent for €13 gives you thirty percent off all shows.
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