Belgian theater makers fear French austerity cuts

The French government's austerity measures are casting a shadow over the theater scene, particularly for Belgian artists who rely on France as a secondary market. This concern was palpable during the recent Avignon Theater Festival, where a sprawling five-hour production of "Maldoror" showcased the immense scale and cost that state subsidies can enable.

Directed by Julien Gosselin, the Avignon production utilized elaborate, moving sets within the historic Cour d'Honneur of the Palais des Papes. While visually impressive and overwhelming, the piece's length and expense were noted. Director Gosselin's plea for resistance against cultural budget cuts, made at the end of the performance, struck some as bold, given the financial precarity faced by hundreds of independent theater groups participating in the festival's "Off" program.

These smaller troupes, unlike the subsidized major productions, must deliver their stories within a strict time limit and often with minimal staging. The fear is that austerity measures will disproportionately affect them, limiting their ability to create and perform. The Belgian theater community, particularly in Wallonia and Brussels, is watching closely, as France's cultural market is vital for their touring and revenue streams. The Federation Wallonia-Brussels' purchase of a venue in Avignon to support Belgian productions underscores this dependence.