“Off” from Avignon: the friends of the Barrels

The “off” festival unfolds across the city in 138 places, permanent, ephemeral or improvised. For the artists who risk themselves in this jungle with 1,570 shows, the choice of the theater where they will put their suitcases is crucial. It is about their working conditions, their visibility but also their finances, some structures renting their representation slots at exorbitant prices.

The actors of the Grand Tigre have taken over the Théâtre des Barriques, rue Ledru-Rollin, a stone’s throw from the Carmes. A few years ago, they had already played one of their previous shows there: The Calas Affairaccording to the Treatise on Tolerance of Voltaire. They return to this place with pleasure. “The set is nice and big enough for the size of the room, says Étienne Luneau, co-director of the company. We feel well treated, and, in addition, they are friends! »

From the same generation, who graduated from theater schools in the mid-2000s, the four co-directors of the Théâtre des Barriques, Matthieu Hornuss, Jean-Matthieu Hulin, Lucie Jousse and Jean-Hugue Courtassol, are actors themselves.

“We first formed a theater companysays Jean-Matthieu Hulin. When we first came to Avignon in 2008 with our show, The Barricades, we became friends with a theater director and decided to invest with her in this new space. But things didn’t go as planned. She left, and we found ourselves with a theater to manage, and a loan to pay off. »

Revenue Sharing

The four young people then get caught up in the game and invent a structure in their image, caring for both the public and the artists. “We welcome them as we would like to be welcomed”, summarizes Matthieu Hornuss.

If this private theater, which operates three weeks a year, must obviously ensure the balance of its accounts as well as the salary of its three managers and two reception managers, it offers co-productions to scheduled shows, rather than slot rentals. . “That is to say that we share the recipe, with a guaranteed minimum for the theatersays Matthieu Hornuss. This virtuous system allows companies to start without having to pay for room rental which would weigh on their budget before they even start. »

Fragile financial balance

They also try to support newcomers in the “off” as well as possible. “Avignon is the jungle, and the first time, it’s really complicatedassures Jean-Matthieu Hulin. We give them advice on towing, for example, which is essential to attract the public. »

Les Barriques defends a line dedicated to joyful and accessible contemporary creation, like the MOLIERE of the Great Tiger Company. Every day, from morning to evening, 16 plays, including some for young audiences, follow one another in the two 49-seat rooms.

«We have found a financial balance but it is fragileacknowledges Matthieu Hornuss. The economic model of “off” is generally not viable. Each year, the number of shows explodes, but the audience is not expandable. »

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