The Very Great World Council of Clowns in Niort Agglo

24 mai 25 mai 2025

Niort agglomeration community

Free

When we listen, we can already hear it... Here again is the very dissipated caravan of Very Great World Council of Clowns in Deux-Sèvres and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the biggest clown event in France, even in Europe!

The dates

May 24-25, 2025

The Very Great World Council of Clowns in Niort Agglo

photo-very-large-world-council-of-clowns-niort-marais-poitevin — Darri-photos

The Very Great World Council of Clowns at 20 years old!

Their first time was one day in 2003 where clowns from all over the world gathered at Niort. Since then, this planetary meeting has been annual. In June, the international caravan has been arriving since 2007 in Two Sevres, wandering through fields, villages and neighborhoods, distributing bursts of laughter and slices of hair in schools, middle and high schools, retirement homes, community halls and other places...

Niort and its region saw the landing of nearly 250 clowns,
de 29 nationalities, on foot, by train, by boat,
by parachute or by bike…!

This year it is 70 clowns from Africa,
from Asia, South America, and Europe, who will arrive in the streets of Niort before getting on the St-André Hill, where more than 55 shows will be presented to their dear audience. All this with their desire to breathe poetry and laughter into hearts!

Learn more about the program

The Matapestes:

Company created in 1978 by Francis Lebarbier et Hugues Roche. Coming from amateur theater and popular education, Les Matapeste created more than 30 clown shows for
all types of audiences and places (circus, theater, street, etc.).
They have always been heavily involved in Niort and the Region Poitou-Charentes with the most diverse partners, while being very present at national and international level through tours and collaborations in more than 50 countries.

The Matapeste imagined the festival to:

To create a international event à Niort, a
Two Sevres and in the Region, promoting art
clownish in all the variety of its forms
and in its social and political role
Make one global gathering favoring
international exchange between clowns
Organize a festival that is also a instead of
creation and invention mixing clowns, artists
other arts and citizens
Bringing partners together the most diverse
in a spirit of popular education

Convenience :

More information to come

Restaurant

It is possible to eat in at the Du Guesclin center, Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. until the evening. Different stands offer you varied dishes.