Mimos

To get the answers to those questions please click on your question

What is Mimos ?
Where, when, who for ?
Around Mimos
Mimos Prize 2009

Each show of the program is both in french and english language : click on "LE PROGRAMME " then on "Programme des spectacles " and then choose a day and a show.

For information about Mim'Off, videos, round table, exhibitions, click on "LE PROGRAMME " then on "other events ".

For more practical information, please click on the menu "MIMOS PRATIQUE " and then on "Practical information "

professional visitors reception area

Now in its 27th year!

The international mime festival, Mimos, has been taking place in Périgueux, capital of the Dordogne, France since 1983.

The Mimos festival presents a variety of brilliant shows with a central theme : movement, swing or liveliness including mime, clowning, circus, dance (hip hop, etc), puppetry, plastic arts and music. The shows are non-verbal and easily understood by everyone (of any age, any culture). However, Mimos is not just about shows. There are also exhibitions, workshops for adults and children, video screening (in the air-conditioned cinema !) and daily discussions between the artists, the public and the jury.

"Gaff Aff" by Zimmermann & de Perrot - Mimos critic’s prize 2007

During Mimos, two different festivals take place simultaneously every day :

First, the festival “In” , composed of international professional companies which come from different parts of the world each year, paid by the festival. There is an admission charge for some of the shows, but many others are free.

Secondly, the festival “Off” with unpaid companies, which are only partly supported by the festival. They perform in the streets, squares and outside cafés, and will probably ask for a contribution at the end of the show.

>> How to get to Perigueux

Mimos Prize / Mim’Off Prize

An international jury of critics and professional artists gives the Mimos Prize (3000 €) for the “Best Performance of the Festival”. Since 2004, a Mim’Off Prize (1000 €), given by the public, rewards the best Mim’Off show.

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Where does Mimos take place ?

The “In” festival  takes place in various places in Périgueux :

Indoors :
Le Theatre, le Palace theater, Filature de l'Isle (1), le Paradis theater

Outdoors :    
- Garden of centre culturel La Visitation (1)
- Garden of the Vesunna Museum
- Garden of Espace culturel François Mitterand
- Parc Gamenson
- place du Marché au bois
- Place des Mondoux, quartier Saint-Georges
- Place de Verdun, quartier Le Toulon (2)
- COPO stadium (3)
- Along the Isle river
- Izards castle - city of Coulounieix-Chamiers

(1) The centre culturel La Visitation is the meeting place of Mimos ; it offers a bar, morning encounters, shows.
(2) a free shuttle is at the public’s disposal. It leaves from the Esplanade du Théâtre 1/2 hour before the show begins. It returns to the centre of the town after the show.
(3) a free shuttle is at the public’s disposal. It leaves from the Esplanade du Théâtre to go to the stadium. It returns to the centre of town after the show.
A picnic supper is organized at the sports field at 8.30 pm (4 €).

The “Off” festival takes place outdoors, in the old shady squares of the medieval part of the city, mostly close to cafés, and along the Isle river. The "fringe" take place in the courtyard of the Centre Culturel de la Visitation

When ?

The festival starts on Monday, first week of august ; it ends on Saturday evening.

Who for ?

The festival is suitable for everyone ; no knowledge of any spoken language is required.  Some of the shows are aimed at the general public, others are for children aged over 6 or 10, and others are for teenagers and adults.

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Almost every restaurant in Périgueux and many shops participate in the festival, offering special “Mimos” menus and staying open late in the evening.
You can also go to the Mim’O Bar to enjoy a nice refreshing break at the Centre Culturel de la Visitation and drink a fair trade coffee, a glass of fresh local organic juice, cider or wine. Sandwiches, savoury quiches and salads will also be on sale. (Open from 10 am to 1 am)

Mimos products

Different Mimos products will be available during the festival week at the Théâtre, at Périgueux Tourist Office, at the Centre Culturel de la Visitation, at Monoprix…

- Tee-shirts (different sizes) 10 € each (one 2007 or 2008 version free) ;
- Cards, posters and balloons are free ; information at the Theatre.

Practical Information Guide (available from the Theatre)

To find out :
- where to enjoy “ Mimos menus ” (15 € special menu for the festival) ;
- where to find Mimos wine : a Bergerac wine specially selected by the wine merchant Cavavin (rue des Chaînes), is on sale in most restaurants offering “Mimos menus”, and at Périgueux wine-merchants ;
- where to find Mimos products ;
- which restaurants and shops are participating in Mimos for the week of the festival.

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> Emergency international phone number : 115

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The jury would firstly like to thank the MIMOS Festival of Périgueux for their invitation to Maitre Oguri, whose performance stunned the Festival.

The critics' Mimos Prize 2009 (Worth: 3000 €) is awarded to the Belgian choreographer Karine Pontiès (Dame de Pic / Cie Karine Pontiès) and to the performers Jaro Vinarsky and Claudio Stellato for the two solos Havran & Fidèle à l'éclair .

Hovering over this year's festival was the shadow of Samuel Beckett; ghosts rise up to give us signals and to put us on our guard in the face of the century's concerns.

In our view, it was in Karin Pontiès two scarecrows that this ghost materialised most successfully and where the interpretation made most sense.

Our century reminds us of the fragility of human kind, of the importance  of friendships which flourish, of the true nature of beings; our society has art which surely serves no purpose but which is nevertheless utterly essential.

The jury also wishes to draw attention to the quality of the performances by the Cie Un loup pour l'homme (France) with Appris par corps and by Elit Veber / Etgar Theatre (Israel) with Eshet (Wife of) .

The jury further wishes to congratulate the Temps Fort Théâtre (France) for their unusual work displayed by the exhibition of masks as well as by their show for a wide ranging audience, Amour à mort.

Finally, as professionals, the jury wishes to give recognition to the work of the Festival in terms of  both its joint productions and its international role.

Members of the Jury

Céline Jacq , journalist with 'VSD'
Sidonie Han , journalist with 'Lettres françaises'
Jean-Claude Bonfanti , director and publisher
François Chat , director and stage director of the Cie françoischat...et companie
René Marion , founder of the Festival Coup de chauffe in Cognac and the Centre National des Arts de la Rue in Cognac.

Mim'Off prize 2009

Selected by members of the public
Worth: 1000 €
Number of votes: 844
The  2009 Mim'off prize is awarded to the Breton company Théâtre des Silences for their show Moi... et elle .

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