Bringing audiences together, defending creation and spreading culture from the main stage to the neighborhoods, this is the ambition displayed by Vincent Bouget and Amélie Casasole for this new season of the Nîmes theater.
Dance, theater, music, young audiences, circus and flamenco make up a more than generous program, between big names, associated artists and local companions. One thing is certain: in Nîmes, we do not lower the curtain. While some theaters are closing or downsizing, Denis Lanoy, Deputy for Arts, Culture and Cultural Facilities, wanted to recall the City’s attachment to the public service of culture: “We are going to get to work and above all, we are going to try to turn on the lights permanently, that will be our objective, it is fortunate to be able to be supported by the City services, I thank them for their presence because they do a very courageous and very tenacious job!“
“The theater is a public service theater“, continued Amélie Casasole, new director of the Nîmes theater since 2022, before thanking all the partners of this program. For her, this new season is not only about “a series of names and dates proposed on the big plateau“but of one”artistic and cultural action project, outside our walls, a real project of support for artists!“
An audience at the meeting
Before detailing the program, Amélie Casasole looks back at the figures from the previous season: “We see that in fact, the public and the inhabitants need and want culture“, she insisted. In fact, more than 39,000 tickets were issued, including 8,500 for schools in 2025-2026: “It’s not nothing, we affect all students from kindergarten to high school.”
The occupancy rate also confirms the public’s appetite. The theater director talks about a particularly well-attended season and an almost completely sold-out flamenco festival. “The rooms filled up very quickly“, she notes, a sign of a meeting now eagerly awaited by the Gardois.
Associated artists and companions from Nîmois
Rocio Molina • @djfrat
The 2026-2027 season extends this partnership with great international artists, such as RocÃo Molina or Dimitri Chamblas. “Even if she is a great flamenco dancer, RocÃo Molina is above all a great creator†, recalls Amélie Casasole. Dimitri Chamblas will sign a masterful opening to the season in the arenas of Nîmes, before returning later to the plateau.
The theater will also support local artists. “It’s important to have artists associated with an international dimension, but the local dimension also seemed very important to us.†, explains the director. The DAVAR company, a young team originating in part from the Nîmes School of Fine Arts, and the choreographer François Lamargot will be part of these new partnerships.
A more than dense dance season
Rehearsals of Dimitri Chamblas and Ulysse Marion • DR
Approved for dance, the Nîmes theater once again assumes this identity. The season will open in the arenas with Dimitri Chamblas, Mario Barbeau and Ulysse Zangs. The program will also welcome Amala Dianor and her company, with a fusion of urban, contemporary and traditional dances. “It’s a show that will make us want to move†, promises the director. XieXin Dance Theater, a figure in contemporary Chinese dance, the ballet of the Opéra national du Rhin, Marion Muzac, Laurent Pichaud, François Lamargot and once again Dimitri Chamblas will complete this choreographic journey.
The young public will also have their meetings. “Kids’ Saturday” will return at the start of the school year with free workshops and a discovery of theater with the family. During the All Saints’ Day holidays, it is “Kids’ Hour” which will be dedicated to toddlers, from 0 to 6 years old, with sensory shows, dance and music.
Obviously, it is about bringing to the theater those who already frequent it, but also those who do not always dare to open the doors.
Le flamenco, pont méditerranéen
• Luis-Castilla
The highlight everyone is waiting for: the Flamenco Festival. Its 37th edition will be held in January and will be held throughout the city. This year, the event gains an extra weekend. “We had a little bit of pressure from the residents“, smiles theater director Bernadette-Lafont. Two events have already been announced, including a musical tribute to Persecución and a French premiere by Andrés MarÃn, “an immense dancer who completely turned dance and flamenco upside down.”
On the theater side, the season will go fromAbolition of privilegesplunged into the night of August 4, 1789, Lumièrea show around bullfighting, a necessarily sensitive subject in Nîmes, while featuring the creations of Guy Cassiers, Mohammed El Khatib, Israel Galvan and much more. Political humor will also be present with a conference-show on the art of winning an election, scheduled a few weeks before the 2027 presidential election.It’s not a happy coincidence“, glisse Amélie Casacole.
Music will not be left out either. Vincent Delerm will open the song section, while the public will find jazz, opera, classical music, a Christmas concert with the Orchester national de France and the choirs of Radio France, but also lunchtime concerts.take a cultural break in the middle of the day“
In short, a rich and open program, to which the Nîmes theater wants to remain faithful to its line: welcoming big names, supporting young artists, supporting residents and making live performance a common affair. A theater to see, dance, listen, debate and, above all, meet.
Full program HERE
