Cie La Boîte à sel will illuminate Charleville-Mézières with Bad Block during the largest Puppet Festival.
From September 19 to 28, 2025, Charleville-Mézières is set to experience a magical moment: the World Festival of Puppet Theatres will host 80 international companies, including the Bordeaux-based La Boîte à sel. With its immersive show Bad Block, Nouvelle-Aquitaine showcases itself as a territory of artistic innovation. Dive into the unique universe of this festival where tradition and modernity meet.
Since 1961, the World Festival of Puppet Theatres (FMTM) has transformed Charleville-Mézières into the world capital of puppetry. For its 23rd edition, from September 19 to 28, 2025, the event brings together artists, researchers, and 155,000 festival-goers around an eclectic program. Among the highlights, the Bordeaux company La Boîte à sel will present Bad Block, an audacious creation supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the OARA.
An exceptional festival, between tradition and avant-garde
Every two years, Charleville-Mézières becomes the beating heart of puppet arts. This year, the FMTM honors Baltic creation and welcomes artists from 23 countries, from Bangladesh to Taiwan. With over 400 performances, the festival confirms its status as the largest gathering dedicated to this art, blending artistic rigor and conviviality.
Organized by the International Puppet Pole – Jacques Félix, born in 2025 from the merger of the Petits Comédiens de Chiffons and the International Puppet Institute, the FMTM perpetuates Jacques Félix's legacy. "This festival is a symbol of brotherhood and cultural openness," recalls Pierre-Yves Charlois, director of the Pole. The program alternates between indoor shows, street performances, and meetings with artists, offering an experience accessible to all.
La Boîte à sel, ambassador of Neo-Aquitaine innovation
Among the 80 selected companies, La Boîte à sel stands out with Bad Block, an immersive and interactive sound object show. The audience is invited to manipulate translucent cubes that come to life, creating a collective experience between theater, digital arts, and puppetry. This project, supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region (€29,000 in operational aid) and the OARA (€50,000 in co-production), embodies the artistic vitality of the territory.
“Bad Block is an invitation to play together, to listen differently, and to be amazed,” explains Céline Garnavault, co-founder of the company. The show, co-produced by several regional venues (Théâtre d’Angoulême, Carré-Colonnes, Espace Jéliote, etc.), will be presented from September 24 to 26, 2025. An English version is in preparation for international distribution, with the support of the Ministry of Culture.
The FMTM is a showcase for contemporary creation. The presence of La Boîte à sel illustrates the diversity and quality of projects supported by Nouvelle-Aquitaine, emphasizes a representative of the OARA.An hybrid and immersive show
Bad Block combines sound arts, digital technology, and puppetry. Spectators, equipped with connected cubes, become active participants in the show by co-constructing soundscapes. “These technological objects create dialogue and emotion,” specifies Thomas Sillard, sound artist of the company. The show, praised for its innovative approach, has already captivated several festivals in France and abroad.
Charleville-Mézières, ephemeral capital of puppetry
For ten days, the city will come alive to the rhythm of shows, workshops, and meetings. The Place Ducale will host a playful and free program, while conferences (“Conversations under the lime trees”) and exhibitions will complement the offer. “The FMTM is a place of sharing, where professionals and festival-goers meet around a common passion,” summarizes an organizer.
With artists from around the world, this edition celebrates cultural diversity and creativity. “In an international context marked by tensions, this festival is a breath of optimism,” confides a volunteer. The puppets, “queens of the city,” invade theaters, streets, and public spaces, transforming Charleville-Mézières into a giant puppet stage.
A heritage and a future
Created in 1961 by Jacques Félix, the FMTM is now carried by the International Puppet Pole, which federates training, creation, and research. “Our ambition is to make Charleville-Mézières a global reference for puppet arts,” explains Pierre-Yves Charlois. The festival is also a springboard for young artists, thanks to residencies and workshops.
In 2025, the FMTM reaffirms its role as a bridge between cultures. “Puppetry is a universal language that transcends borders,” emphasizes an international puppeteer. With artists from Iran, Chile, or the United States, the festival offers a vibrant snapshot of contemporary creation.
Why is this festival unmissable?
The FMTM is much more than a festival: it is a laboratory of ideas, a space for dialogue, and a popular celebration. In 2025, it reminds us that puppetry, an art that is both ancestral and resolutely modern, has the power to bring people together and move them. “It’s an event where art becomes a vector of peace and understanding,” concludes a loyal spectator.
