The third edition of the French cultural festival (La Fête) organized by the Embassy of France in Thailand and the Alliance Française of Bangkok , in partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, will be held from June 14th to July 14th 2006 . The festival (La Fête) takes place in the frame of the Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne.

Initiated in 2004, the French cultural festival (La Fête) will enter its 3rd year in 2006, and has become an annual cultural event in Bangkok not to be missed.

Covering a wide range of disciplines, the festival testifies to the dynamic artistic and cultural cooperation between France and Thailand , as well as French creativity in the varied fields of music, dance, photography, visual arts, circus, gastronomy and jazz.

The year 2006 is particularly rich in terms of cultural exchange between Thailand and France . For the first time, a Thai festival will be organised in France from September 15th to October 31st, a mirror image of the (La Fête) festival. This ‘Tout à fait Thai’ (‘Completely Thai’) festival, will present all facets of contemporary and traditional Thai culture in Paris, Lyon and many other French cities.

This year(La Fête) will try to attract an even larger and more varied audience though ever-increasing Franco-Thai partnerships. At the very heart of Bangkok’s major cultural venues, members of the general public will be invited to discover the great names of France and Thailand’s artistic panorama such as Philippe Decouflé, choreographer of the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, or Manit Sriwanichpoom, internationally known photographer whose work was exhibited during the ‘Month of Photography’ on the BTS. The highlight of (La Fête) will be the pre-opening concert to be given on June 14th in honour of His Majesty the King of Thailand with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the talented pianist Anne Queffélec.

The festival will build upon the success of previous (La Fête) by presenting new forms of artistic expression. For example, new circus with ‘ la Compagnie 111 with Plan B’ is a highly inventive show full of humour and poetry, as well as being a model of technical perfection and physical prowess.

The 2006 edition of(La Fête) will be equally uncompromising in the quality of exhibitions that bring together a more significant number of disciplines and projects. Some of this year’s new shows include fashion with a runway show featuring four French designers, jazz with Bojan Z., a musician who performs in most of the world’s international festivals, as well as French theatre with 2 plays featuring black humour.

Inspired by the dialogue between the French and Thai culture, driven by the same quest for excellence and diversity, with the inexhaustible desire to promote the most varied forms of expression, (La Fête) 2006 will follow in the footsteps of its precedent occurrences, promising unexpected surprises brimming with emotion through the spectacle of colourful innovative forms of artistic expression.

Bangkok will soon be in ( La Fête Celebration ) , come join the fun…

‘LA FÊTE’ 2006 – Provisional Programme
June 14 th to July 14 th 2006

1. Pre-opening event honouring the celebration of the 60 th anniversary of the accession to the throne of His Majesty the King of Thailand << Click
Classical music concert by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the talented French soloist Anne Queffélec
Date: June 14 th 2006 – 7:30 PM
Venue: Thailand cultural Center, Main Hall

>> Chamber Music
3. “Colours” << Click
Chamber Music FestivalThree concerts and one master class, including a special homage to W.A. Mozart and other renowned composers from the chamber music repertoire
Dates: June 23 rd, June 25 th and June 27 th 2006 – 7.30 PM
Concert Venue: Thailand Cultural Centre, Small auditorium
Master Class Date and Venue:
June 24 th 2006 at MIFA – from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

>> Circus and New Forms of Performing Arts
4. Compagnie 111 with ‘Plan B’ << Click
Dance, video, acrobatics, juggling; a mixed performance of new circus
Dates: June 30 th and July 1 st 2006 – 8:15 PM
Venue: Patravadi Theatre

6. Jazz Festival
Jazz soloist Bojan Z (pianist) with jazz bands from Bangkok (two concerts) << Click
Dates: June 27 th and June 28 th 2006 – 8:00 PM
Venues: Prof. Sangvian Indaravijaya Auditorium of The Stock Exchange of Thailand Building (27th) and at the Auditorium of the Alliance Française of Bangkok(28th)

7. Fête de la musique ( Music Day ) << Click
Performances by French and Thai bands
Date: July 1 st 2006 – from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Venue: Phrat Athit Road

>> Theatre
8. La Troupe des Deux Mondes – French Plays << Click
‘La Troupe des Deux Mondes’ presents ‘Edouard et Agrippine’ by René de Obaldia and ‘Soirées Bourgeoises’ by Guy Foissy
Date: July 1 st 2006 – 8:00 PM
Venue: Alliance Française of Bangkok

>> Contemporary Dance
9. ‘Pitchet Klunchun and Myself’ and ‘I am a Demon’
<< Click
French choregrapher Jerôme Bel and Thai dancer
Pitchet Klunchun form a duo in their show ‘Pitchet Klunchun and Myself’
Dates: June 23 rd and June 24 th 2006 – 7:30 PM
Venues: The Chang Theater (June 23 rd) and the Auditorium of the Alliance Fraçaise of Bangkok (June 24 th)

Pitchet Klunchun presents a second one-man show called ‘I am a Demon’
Date: June 25 th 2006 – 7:30 PM
Venue: Chang Theater

>> Visual Arts
10. The Month of Photography << Click
Seven exhibitions at Bangkok ’s major galleries and bars and restaurants of Phra Athit rd Main project: (The Theatre of Fashion)(FNAC collection), interacting with the works of Thai photographers
Dates: from June 25 th to July 30 th 2006
Venue: The Queen’s Gallery and arts galleries around Bangkok

Side project: open air exhibition of large-sized photographs by Thai artist Manit Sriwanichpoom
Venue: Siam BTS station

11. Wall Masterpiece by WA << Click
Dates: from July 4 th to July 30 th 2006
Venue: Various venues around Bangkok

>> Cinema
12. French Film Festival << Click
Including ten recent films ( 2004 - 2006) never before seen in Thailand , with the presence of artists
Dates: from June 26th to July 9th 2006
Venue: Major Cineplex – Siam Paragon

13. Short Film Festival Theme: << Click
‘When Thailand meets French speaking countries’
Dates: from July 6th - 7th 2006
Venue: Auditorium of the Alliance Française (July 6th - 7th, 2006) and Bangkok CODE (July 8th, 2006)

>> French Gourmet festival
14. La Fête du Goût “French Gastronomy Festival”
<< Click
Every participating restaurant will create a new dish, a mix of Thai and French fine cuisine. Free tastings will be provided by French producers as well
Dates: from June 29th to July 6th 2006
Venues: French restaurants in Bangkok

>> Literature
15. “ Thailand : French documentary resources”
<< Click
For the first time, the history of the relationships between Thailand and France are gathered in one book
Venue: Alliance Française of Bangkok , Café 1912

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++ Closing Ceremony ++
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16. Philippe Decouflé Company presents a solo ‘The doubt within me’ << Click
After the success of Tricodex in Bangkok last year, the choreographer will present his own solo performance
Dates: July 12 th and July 13 th 2006 – 7:30 PM
Venue: Thailand Cultural Center