Le French Festival 2023 – 12 to 16 July 2023 – St Helier, Jersey

In July, Jersey celebrates its French connections as Le French Festival – five days of all things French –
returns to the Island from 12 to 16 July 2023.

There’s something to appeal to every taste from live music, hula hoop performances, open air cinema,
live and screened opera, an escape game, a pétanque competition – to say nothing of food and drink,
a Norman market and the arrival of the 90 yachts taking part in the Tour des Ports de la Manche. And,
of course, a very French evening with the celebration for Bastille Day on 14 July!

Le French Festival returns for a fourth time, after the first festival took place in July 2017, but it revives
a tradition which has a much longer history, dating back to the 1980s when Jersey first launched a
cultural celebration of its links with its French neighbours.

This year, le French Festival organised several events to include local schools and children in the event:
a Poster Competition was launched to choose the official poster for 2023 with 5 local schools taking
part and a total of 47 posters collected. The choice was extremely difficult for Le French Festival
committee who selected 8 runners-up. After much deliberation, the winning drawing was selected.
Very well done to Michal (9) from Ecole FLAM (Français LAngue Maternelle) Jersey, whose design
became the official poster of the 2023 French Festival Jersey! All the 47 posters are exhibited at the
Alliance Française Jersey until 21st July

A rich programme of events is planned for this 2023 edition of Le French Festival.
Among the highlights this year:

• “Dis-moi tes amours!”, Royal Square, 14 July, 7pm – a one-hour show from opera to musical
  by the Lyrisme de Rue compagnie. The artists will take the audience on a light-hearted,
  sensitive and humorous journey to discover the many facets of the operatic voice. Arias and
  ensembles from operas, musicals and melodies respond to each other and collide. All in a
  warm and relaxed spirit.
• Tapagwen, a joyful trio of musicians from Bretagne will offer wonderful performances mixing
  traditional Breton music with Irish, Acadian or ragtime influences. They will stroll around
  town, host 2 Breton Dance workshops and will finish with a concert on Royal Square on
  Sunday 16th July.
• Angèle, hula hoop act. Angèle is a peculiar artist which balances hula hoop and singing. Come
  and see her unique performances, on Saturday 15th July in the Royal Square (free).
• La Panthère des Neiges – Film screening (French with English subtitles). A magnificent film,
  suitable for the entire family, screened on Saturday 15th July in the Royal Square (free).
• And of course, the Bastille Day celebrations!

Join us, from 5.30pm, Friday 14th July, in the Royal Square, for a very French evening where we will
celebrate the French National day with a series of events. First, we’ll kick off Le French Festival by
officially thanking the children who took part in our poster competition and invite the runners-up and
the overall winner to come on stage! Then, we’ll welcome some of the winners of the French Section
of the Eisteddfod who will perform texts, songs and poems in French! We will have the immense
pleasure to have a short performance by le Ballet d’Jèrri just before the official Bastille Day ceremony
and the unmissable “vin d’honneur”.

Everyone, French, francophones, Francophiles, Jersey beans, newcomers or visitors are invited to raise
a glass. As a French style ‘vin d’honneur’, complimentary drinks will be served (with some French
nibbles) while you’ll enjoy some background French music. The Lyrisme de Rue company will then
perform their one-hour show “Dis-moi tes amours!” where professional musicians and opera singers
will sing tunes from opera to musicals. And to conclude “en beauté” the evening, you’re invited to a
dance party, until 10pm, with our very own French DJ based in Jersey, DJ Stefunk.

All the events are free, including the chance to see the screening of “L’Elixir d’Amour” or Elixir of Love.
The open-air screening is organised thanks to a partnership with the Opéra de Rennes, as part of
“Opera on screen(s)”, a project started in Brittany aiming at making Opera accessible to a wider
audience. The Opera will be in Italian with French surtitles.

Le French Festival in Jersey is a collaboration between Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche, the
Alliance Française de Jersey, the Honorary French Consul and Government of Jersey and is overseen
by the volunteer members of Le French Festival Committee.

Chairman of the organising committee, Deputy Montfort Tadier said:
‘It has been my privilege to Chair Le French Festival since 2019. I am proud of the hard work of the
team and our partners in putting together yet another varied and high-quality programme, for all ages
to enjoy. I encourage all islanders to take part in one or more of these events, especially if they have
never attended before. They will not be disappointed!’

Anna Peluso-Allen, Directrice of the Alliance Française, said: “We are thrilled to come back with a big
French Festival after Covid and get the people of Jersey together around French culture and food to
celebrate our strong links of friendship! I am always amazed by the enthusiasm and creativity of the
young ones, boosted by their great Teachers, the posters exhibition is a must see! Nous vous
attendons! ”

Christine Bonhomme, Directrice of the Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche, said:
“We are delighted to bring a Norman flavour to Le French Festival programme of events with artists
and traders coming from Normandy. In addition to highlighting the particular connection between
Jersey and Normandy, Le French Festival is an opportunity for the Norman “cousins” not only to
showcase their many talents but also to work towards creating and developing long-lasting
relationships. Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche’s involvement in Le French Festival is an extra
way to show the commitment of Région Normandie and Conseil Départemental de La Manche to
strengthen our cooperation with Jersey.”

The full programme for Le French Festival is available online at: www.lefrenchfestivalci.com/jersey