Authors in Tandem - Street and Public Space Arts & Theater

Artists in Tandem - Street and Public Space Arts & Theater is an initiative coordinated by Artcena that brings together several cultural partners, inviting two artists—one from the street and public space, the other from theater—to share their creative visions and collaborate on a cross-disciplinary writing project. 
Two duos have been selected this year. They will receive writing grants, and we will host them in residence in partnership withthe Espace des Arts for a period of work in public spaces. At the end of this experimental period, each duo will present a 30-minute pilot performance during the 2025 Chalon dans la rue festival.
Online article on the two winning duos for 2024–2025

• Thylda Barès ( street and public space artist, Collectif in itinere) and Laurie Guin (author, playwright)

Pests
Street Theater / Walking Performance - New Production for 2026

Residents of a suburban neighborhood overrun by rats—all of whom work night shifts—gather after one of their children is bitten. 
What should I do? 
But the initial question—how to eradicate rats—gives rise to a collective reflection on the responsibility of those in power, on the rats’ own invisibility to decision-makers, and on the rats themselves: who do they resemble, after all? 
From a neighborhood meeting to a procession of residents ready to make their presence known, *Nuisibles* invites the audience to join in a powerful act.

The objectives of the residency:
Observe the surroundings and get to know the city’s environment. Envision the location for the community meeting, then the various walking routes. Adapt the writing to the city’s unique characteristics. Continue the writing process by reading the texts within the city’s public spaces.

CAST: Director: Thylda Barès / Assistant Director: Paul Colom / Playwright: Laurie Guin / Cast: Thylda Barès, Paul Colom, Victoria Guliksen, Harry Kearton, Koromoutou Sidibé / Rats: Ragoût, De Gaulle, Trac

• Olivier Villanove (street and public space artist, Agence de Géographie Affective) and Penda Diouf (author)

Savitri, the Brave
Strolling street theater - A production for 2027

For this new production, I want to draw inspiration from a story—that of Savitri the Valiant—and explore our capacity for commitment, loyalty, and courage.
I want to celebrate the strength of a woman who stays true to herself, who listens to her heart rather than the dictates of convention, who is ready to face death. While this story is certainly about love, it is also about courage—that ability to withstand adversity that we can all draw upon and that makes us more courageous.

The objectives of the residency: A collaborative writing project blending the story of Olivier Villanove with the writing of Penda Diouf. How can a text be made heard in the public sphere? An attempt to bring this to life in the public sphere. How can images emerge from the interplay between landscape and spoken word?

CAST: Olivier Villanove – concept and narrative / Penda Diouf – writer / Garance Hubert Samson and Dimitri Rizzello – performers / Juliette Morel – set design / External consultant – in progress / Sound design – in progress / Production – Anouk Ferré / Administration – Anne Berger / Production collaboration – Fanny Spiess