Théâtre des Carmes

Théâtre des Carmes André Benedetto is a small independent playhouse in the historic core of Avignon, at 6 place des Carmes, a ten-minute walk from the Palais des Papes. It looks unassuming from the outside, yet this stage played a direct role in creating the parallel festival movement that now fills Avignon's streets every summer.

Where did this theatre come from?

The company was founded in the winter of 1963 by writer and actor André Benedetto, his wife Jacqueline, and Bertrand Hurault. They set up in the former Saint-Benoît parish hall, attached to the Saint-Symphorien-les-Carmes church — a building never designed as a theatre, which gave the young company its rough, independent identity from day one. Their opening production, "Le Pilote d'Hiroshima," is regarded by theatre historians as marking the birth of Avignon's first permanent independent stage.

How did this stage give rise to the Festival OFF?

By the time anyone used the word "Off," the Nouvelle Compagnie d'Avignon had already been working here for three years. In 1966, on the sidelines of the official Avignon Festival, the company staged "Statues" — a performance now considered the founding act of the Festival OFF, even though nobody at the time set out to launch a rival festival. Committed to a politically engaged style of theatre that responded directly to current events, the company quickly became a reference point for artists looking for an alternative to the official program.

What can you expect from the theatre today?

The auditorium seats 187 people and is air-conditioned, and the programming mixes the venue's own productions with guest artists, acting workshops, talks and conferences. André Benedetto ran the theatre until his death in 2009. A year later, the board of the Nouvelle Compagnie d'Avignon appointed Andriève Chamoux and Sébastien Benedetto as co-directors, and the venue was officially renamed Théâtre des Carmes André Benedetto in his honour. It stays open almost year-round, closing only in August — a deliberate choice, since that is precisely when Avignon's festival crowds peak elsewhere in town.

How to get there and when to visit?

The theatre sits well within the old city walls, an easy walk from Avignon's main landmarks and from the Avignon Centre train station, so a car is rarely needed. Because the hall is small and popular shows can sell out quickly, it's worth checking the schedule and booking ahead, especially around the busier festival weeks in July. Since the theatre itself closes in August, the quieter months from autumn through spring are the best window for catching an intimate production without competing for tickets.

Frequently asked questions

Is Théâtre des Carmes part of the Festival OFF? No, it's an independent, year-round theatre — but it's exactly where the 1966 production that is credited with starting the Festival OFF was first staged.

How many seats does the auditorium have? The hall holds 187 seats and is air-conditioned, which matters during Avignon's hot summers.

Is the theatre open during the summer festival season? It closes for the whole of August; the rest of the year it runs its own productions alongside guest shows, workshops and public talks.

Who runs the theatre now? Since 2010 it has been co-directed by Andriève Chamoux and Sébastien Benedetto, continuing the artistic path set by founder André Benedetto.