A Shakespeare festival in Vincennes!

Shakespeare d’Avril! is a festival where all can discover—and rediscover—the everlasting brilliance of Shakespeare’s works. It offers a variety of cultural events that are fun, inclusive, and accessible to all: connoisseurs and newcomers, young and old, able and disabled alike, everyone is welcome !

Shakespeare d’Avril! takes place in the city of Vincennes, well known for its tradition of culture and solidarity.

Shakespeare d’Avril! draws in the crowds: in April 2019, Irina Brook and Marie-Claude Pietragalla participated in the festival, and 2500 people attended 8 different events!

In 2021, Shakespeare d’Avril ! was postponed to 2023 because of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in 2022, La Fabrique Shakespeare organized an event over the Easter week-end at the Château de Vincennes, centered around the figure of Henry V on the eve of the 600th anniversary of the great King’s death at the Château de Vincennes. For details, click here!

All are welcome at Shakespeare d’Avril !—parents with young children, actors and theatre-goers, people with disabilities, students, teenagers, journalists, school children, and all those who are simply curious… maybe even « curious, teenage students who have young children with disabilities! »

Click here for a short video about the festival. A version with subtitles will be available very soon.

A festival for all

At Shakespeare d’Avril !  we work to provide each festival goer—whatever their situation—with at least one cultural offer. All the venues are accessible to people with limited mobility. Trained volunteers are present during the whole festival to ensure all guests are accommodated. Our team is there to make sure that everyone feels respected and welcome while enjoying the festival.

Shakespeare d’Avril ! includes Relaxed Performances, which provide a carefree environment so that everyone can enjoy the show and express their emotions freely.

During a Relaxed Performance, audience and artists are informed that the usual rules are relaxed: any differences are welcome, you can move freely and ask your neighbors questions during the show, and staff are there to offer assistance if needed.

A Relaxed Performance offers a carefree environment to welcome and reassure everyone, including people with autism, mental and physical disabilities, parents with young children as well as elderly people and their loved ones.

Our team

Marie-Pierre Dupagne

President/Founder

Marie-Pierre Dupagne, founder of the festival, lives in Vincennes. Studying and teaching English fuelled her passion for Shakespeare, and she has long been committed to making cultural events accessible to all.

The organising committee:
our « CAWDOR ».

Our committee brings together people working in different fields : theatre, access, secondary education, higher education, finance, social protection as well as people in retirement.

40 volunteers

40 enthusiastic volunteers cooperate at every stage to smooth the way for everyone—organizers, artists and audiences.

What brings us together

Our belief:

Experience Shakespeare once and you may well love him forever!

Our commitment:

Accessibility!

The festival is for all to enjoy. We offer quality cultural events that are sufficiently varied to allow everyone to discover/rediscover Shakespeare in their own way.

As early as the programming stage, we are careful to bare in mind all types of visitors so that no one feels left out.

Our values:

Humour, sharing, and respect.

Venues list and contact here

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The festival Shakespeare d’Avril ! is brought to you by:

With the support of the City of Vincennes and in partnership with Culture Relax