THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Has ‘La Fete’ returned?

Has ‘La Fete’ returned?

With more than 10 programmes of visual arts, dance, theatre and music in the next few months, it certainly feels like it

The facebook pages of La Fete and Alliance Francaise Bangkok have been filled with announcements of cultural programme of late, leading to joy and excitement among the event’s many fans. But then a new website was launched with a much simpler title – “French Highlights”.

Has ‘La Fete’ returned?

Ensemble Multilaterale is now collaborating with Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Music. Photo/Ugo Ponte

Curious as to what is going on, we asked French cultural attache Vanessa Silvy to clarify. 
“You can call it by either name, actually. We wanted to create a new website that’s simple – less is more – and where you can look at the photos of the works, read their short descriptions as well as book your tickets,” she explains. 
“This website is linked with our organising and venue partners as well, like the Alliance Francaise Bangkok and Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts.
“I confirm that the festival format of La Fete finished in 2015, and last year we had year-round programming, which I think is easier for the audience to attend at different times throughout the year and more practical for us as we have more opportunity to programme performing arts events that come into the region outside the two months of the old La Fete format. In a way, it’s continuing as La Fete is already a cultural label for France here.”
So why “French Highlights?”
“The French Embassy’s Cultural service and cultural coordination decided to have a common communication of cultural activities and programmes with the Alliance Francaise Bangkok,” she says. “After all, this is French programming and so we want to promote it together. The cooperation varies from one programme to another – some events are funded through the French Embassy budget, but are staged at Alliance Francaise. And of course, we’re still working with other venues as well. We’re using these events to say to the audience, ‘This is French culture’. And this also reconfirms that we’re now programming cultural events all year round.”

Has ‘La Fete’ returned? Head to Live RCA tomorrow night for a concert by Yelle. Photo/Alex Sabot

“French Highlights # 1” kicks off tomorrow with two concerts that will attract different audiences to two venues. 
At the Alliance Francaise Bangkok auditorium, French cellist Marc Poppey will share the stage with the Bangkok Chamber Orchestra and later on Yelle will be at Live RCA, thanks to the Institut Francaise’s French Miracle Tour, which brings new artists to perform in Asia.
“It’s my birthday: that’s why we have two concerts,” Silvy laughs, confirming that she’ll be able to attend both as the latter will go on until midnight.

Has ‘La Fete’ returned? This is what Gilles “Globe Painter” Rieu created in Beijing: let’s see how Bangkok inspires him. Photo/Gilles Rieu

On May 22, Gilles “Globe Painter” Rieu will be at Alliance Francaise’s gallery for the vernissage of his “One Stop in Bangkok” exhibition of works on 10-metre long paper rolls, which continues until June 11. Afterwards, the gallery will host “Intersection”, an exhibition of multi-colour palettes by Bangkok-based French artist Diane Fourlegnie. Another visual arts programme is “FRAC: What is not visible is not visible”. After showings at the Singapore and Gwangju biennales, it will be at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre from June 16 to July 23.
On May 25, the audience can watch – free with advanced registration – a contemporary dance performance “Escape” in which French choreographer Nathanael Marie works with French, Thai and Swiss dancers. 
Also in late May, Ensemble Multilaterale will have two concerts, at Chulalongkorn University Music Hall and Chiang Mai University Arts Centre.
“They were part of the regional tour last year and matched very well with Silpakorn University and so they’re now doing a collaborative project.

Has ‘La Fete’ returned? Compagnie Uzumaki’s “Sadako” combines butoh, hiphop and origami. Photo/Carmen Ramos

“We always ask [French artists] if there’s possibility for collaboration [with Thai artists], and that’s why we’re bringing Compagnie Uzumaki to Asia for the first time. Besides performing ‘Sadako’ on June 15, the company’s director Valentine Nagata-Ramos will give a three-afternoon workshop with professional Thai hip-hop dancers at the Alliance Francaise from June 12 to 14, and create a new work with them to be presented on June 15,” Silvy continues,
Another hip-hop event – and hip-hop always reminds us of La Fete – is Compagnie Swaggers’ “In the Middle”, which will be making a stop for one evening at Alliance Francaise during its regional tour. That will allow us to see how they live up to the slogan “Let’s ignite, but install an atmosphere.”

In another example of the long-term relationship created by La Fete, Compagnie Non Nova will return to Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts – where its “PPP” had its Asia premiere six years ago even before the venue officially opened – with two works: “l’Apres-midi d’un Foehn” and “Vortex” from June 7 to 10.
“Having been staged for hundreds of performances in many countries, ‘l’Apres-midi d’un Foehn’ is now being nominated for a Moliere Award, the most prestigious award in French theatre, and we’ll find out if they won before they arrive here,” Silvy says.

Has ‘La Fete’ returned? Wind plays a major role in Compagnie Non Nova’s “Vortex”; this one’s not for kids. Photo/JeanLuc Beaujault

 

“With the shorter version of the show already seen a few years ago at TK Park, I’d like to show its full version and sustain the company’s friendship with the Thai audience.”
As for the future of “French Highlights”, Silvy says, “It could be every two or four months [that we’re launching our big pool of programmes like this]. The next pool of cultural events [perhaps ‘French Highlights #2’] will be in October and November, when we’ll work with the ‘Unfolding Kafka’ Festival. We’ll also bring in street performance artists and are working on a big [modern] circus show, which is the only programme we cannot confirm yet for this year.”
 WHAT THE FRENCH!
 - “French Highlights # 1” starts from two concerts tomorrow and runs until July 23 at many venues in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Visit www.French-Highlights.com to access more details and to book tickets or check out Facebook/lafete.festival and Facebook/AllianceFrancaiseBangkok
- The writer wishes to thank the French embassy’s Asma Sentira and Janjira Kingkannak for all assistance.

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