Fifty years after the death of Jean Vilar, the Jean Vilar association presents an outdoor photographic exhibition that invites you to explore the work of Jean Vilar ( actor film and stage, stage director who created the festival of Avignon) in Côté Jardin, out of the time of representations, “under the sky and the glorious stone” of Avignon.
For 5 months, with free access, Côté Jardin invites walkers to discover about thirty unique photographs, in large formats, in the popular Jardin des Doms, the extraordinary garden adjoining the Palais des Papes and the cradle of the city.
The result of meticulous research in the Maison Jean Vilar archives and in various public and private funds, these photographs – often unpublished – bear witness to the vitality and commitment of Jean Vilar and his troupe. They also reflect the unfailing link between the theater, the Festival and the City of Avignon. They are signed by Agnès Varda, the friend of Sète, Maurice Costa, the local witness, and all the other photographers who have followed the adventure of the National Popular Theater in the midi.
Côté Jardin, in the shadow of memories, remains the unforgettable presence of those who have created another way of doing and sharing the theater: Jean Vilar and all the beautiful troupe of the TNP, Gérard Philipe, Maria Casarès, Philippe Noiret, Silvia Monfort, Daniel Gélin … and many others.
These images show us the other side of the stage, behind the scenes of the Avignon nights : work, team spirit, fatigue, play, rest, family, and always the clairvoyant presence of Jean Vilar who directed and invented whenever necessary, the theater under the sun, the theater far from Paris.
They bear witness to Avignon’s imprint in Jean Vilar’s theater. They also tell us of the strength, vitality and joy of doing theater together, yesterday and today.
CÔTÉ JARDIN, JEAN VILAR AND AVIGNON
Photographic walk in the Jardin des Doms
Offered by Maison Jean Vilar
Grand Arles Express program of the Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles and the 75th Festival d’Avignon
Jardin des Doms: Place du Palais des Papes, Avignon
Every day, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
