WET Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Diverse Performances at CDN de Tours

The WET Festival, dedicated to emerging artists, marked its tenth anniversary from March 27 to 29, 2026, at the Centre Dramatique National de Tours. Originally conceived by former director Jacques Vincey and continued by current director Bérangère Vantusso, the event included professional networking sessions alongside performances. The program featured several notable productions: Apolline Clavreuil presented 'Faire la nique,' drawing inspiration from Niki de Saint-Phalle's provocative works. Anthony Martine performed 'Quand on dort on n'a pas faim,' a queer cabaret blending personal narrative with song. Mathieu Barché offered 'Fictions spéculatives,' a youth-oriented show using large puppets to address ecological themes. Mathilde Panis and Emmanuelle Destremau staged 'Icône.s,' exploring Panis's lifelong admiration for Marlon Brando. Romain Gneouchev revived 'Une chose vraie,' featuring Ysanis Padonou's portrayal of early-onset hereditary dementia, based on her personal experience. The festival concluded with Suzy Baret-Fabry's direction of Jean-Luc Lagarce's 'L’Apprentissage,' focusing on hospitalization due to AIDS-related complications, performed by Arthur Amard. These works highlighted diverse artistic approaches, from autobiographical storytelling to political commentary, within a festival framework supporting new theatrical voices.