We bring you a special edition from the 77th international theatre festival in the southern French city of Avignon, where change is in the air under its new Portuguese director Tiago Rodrigues. As the first non-French leader to take the reins of the festival, Rodrigues has brought in a majority of first-time performers and female directors, and introduced English as a guest language. One of the British artists joining the line-up for the first time this year is actor, director and playwright Tim Crouch. He sat down with FRANCE 24's Alison Sargent to talk about his experimental work exploring grief, technology and the nature of performance.
Meanwhile, the festival's opening night put social justice centre stage, with an adaptation of the 1973 documentary "Welfare" and a roving dance performance choreographed by French hip-hop pioneer Bintou Dembélé.
In addition to the official 44 shows, there are nearly 1,500 taking place in the fringe "Off" festival. FRANCE 24's Natacha Milleret followed one young troupe as they made their debut at Avignon.
