Avignon Festival 2025: Arabic voices take the stage as theatre confronts Pelicot case

This week on arts24, Eve Jackson is in the studio while our reporter Olivia Salazar-Winspear is on the ground at one of the world’s most iconic theatre gatherings – the Avignon Festival in southern France. Now in its 79th year, the event is turning heads with a bold and timely focus on Arabic-language works, shining a light on one of France’s most spoken – yet still underrepresented – languages on stage. Festival director Tiago Rodrigues continues his mission to open up theatre to new audiences with a more inclusive and international approach. This year’s programme features powerful performances from Morocco to Palestine, and even a Sheherazade-inspired opening show at the majestic Palais des Papes.