How did the festival begin 30 years ago?
We created Cric-Crac, a group of five storytellers who went everywhere: to schools, libraries, and school trips where we were asked to tell Pyrenean tales for the Parisian children who came. A festival that existed in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region was ending, and we felt it was unacceptable to lose our festival, so we created Contes en Hiver (Tales in Winter).
What did you want to do with this festival?
To keep storytelling alive here, when it was rather in decline. To give space to its revival, to this essential form of performance: all it takes is one person to tell a story—we'll call them a storyteller—and an audience to listen, and the story exists.
Has storytelling evolved?
In addition to traditional storytelling, other forms have emerged. Stories with musicians, stories brought to life through performance. But the storyteller and their tale must remain the focus. Everything else takes a backseat. Staging, yes, with gestures and presence, but no pre-written script. The storyteller is alone on stage; they must remain free to express themselves within the framework of the story, to connect as closely as possible with their audience, the venue, and the moment. It requires a lot of preparation.
Who is this festival for?
The Winter Tales Festival is for everyone because storytelling is for everyone. There are stories for children, stories for adults. For all ages, and it's not just for those who frequent theaters. Storytelling doesn't require elaborate technical setups. There's no scenery, just a little lighting, and a small space is all that's needed. This allows us to schedule the festival's stories throughout the region. We go out to meet the public, with partners who allow us to be as close as possible to the diversity of audiences, in small towns, in bars, community halls, libraries, at the Lourdes community center, in schools, at the Escaladieu Abbey. That's also part of the magic of storytelling. And since a large part of our program is free, we're really very open.
How do you choose the storytellers for the festival?
We decided to create a festival with storytellers we've seen and heard. So, I see a lot of shows, I go to a lot of festivals. I like storytellers who only need their voice to captivate the audience. I like storytellers who believe in what they tell and make others believe in it. I like storytellers who let the audience imagine. There are some favorites, storytellers who particularly interest me. I schedule them according to their availability. And from these storytellers emerges the festival's theme.
What have you programmed this year?
There are six storytellers: Anne-Gaëlle Duvochel, who will open the festival on Saturday; Nathalie Lhoste-Clos, well-known in the Hautes-Pyrénées; Pierre Delye, who is both an author and a storyteller; David Torména; Jean-Claude Botton; and Hélène Bardot. There are 18 public performances and 6 in schools. And two weeks to discover them, see them, or see them again.
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