On March 2, the Festival international de Casteliers will launch its 21st edition, taking place during spring break in various theatres and venues. Eleven productions from Quebec, Canada and Europe, along with exhibitions and special events, will highlight the richness of contemporary puppetry and object theatre.
These bold artistic proposals reflect the vitality of the 11th art - blending reimagined traditions with creative daring. Through March 8, the Festival transforms spring break into a week filled with discoveries and unexpected experiences.
As the Festival approaches, four events are already shaping up to be must-sees:
La vraie fausse conférence sur le théâtre d'objet (Collectif d'artistes - France, Belgium, Italy)
A brilliant and irreverent celebration of 40 years of object theatre, led by the artists who helped shape its foundations. A playful and insightful dive into the history of an artistic revolution - March 4 and 5 at Théâtre Outremont.
Viva! (La Loquace cie - France, Spain)
Using everyday objects, this moving story brings to life the memory of a Spanish family marked by the Civil War. Object theatre, subtle humour and intimate drama come together to give collective memory an original form - March 5 and 6 at Auditorium PGLO.
Une Traversée (Compagnie Tchaïka - Belgium)
A young girl transforms the ruins of her home into a playground, inventing fantastical stories to navigate a world shaken by war. Through object theatre and poetic storytelling, imagination becomes an act of survival and empowerment - March 7 and 8 at Théâtre Outremont.
PAPA
A move turns everything upside down: Papa loses his footing… and his child! Amid cardboard boxes, poetry and humour, the home becomes a playground where reality and imagination blur - March 7 and 8 at Auditorium PGLO.
Running from March 2 to 8, 2026, this edition confirms the Festival as a key event for contemporary puppetry, where forms, objects and imaginations are constantly reinvented.
Full program and tickets: festival.casteliers.ca
