Needing to top up your creativity? There's no place on earth like the city of Perigueux (in the Dordogne, France) during MIMOS, the annual international mime festival. I first went to MIMOS as a young teenager...it could have been as early as 1985...and I've gone back countless times. It's held in the most beautiful city, full of history, with cobbled winding streets, tall sandstone bricks, with festival balloons hanging high, reflecting their colour and light on the ground; stunning, thanks to the relentless blue sky and sunshine. The whole city is taken over by a buzz of the best international outdoor and indoor work that takes place at different sites all over the city (in schools, parks, theatres and squares) from large scale circus, to contemporary dance to clowns on top of clowns on top of Chinese poles, on top of the world.
Each time I go, I see between 20-30 shows, most of them free outdoor performances and I laugh, cry and cheer, enjoying some of the most influential theatre I ever get to see. This year MIMOS is 40 years old, so it's going to be a major celebration. I have already chosen what I'm going to see this year, starting with a historic anniversary show, a promenade performance where dance, mime, fire and live music will transform the streets into a huge party, blowing out 40 candles along the way. My other highlight I'm hoping to catch is a pocket circus show and burlesque ballet that takes place in a garden called Poufs have Feelings!
So, whether you’re a theatre lover, a performer, a student, a drama teacher or just love to have a week away somewhere gorgeous, MIMOS is a great destination. Of course, if you are all the above and you’d like to learn more about mask theatre, you can also join in with my Masterclass (our first workshop at MIMOS), where I’ll teach you all about performing in mask for a whole two days. We’ve kept prices as low as we can (80 euros for the full weekend) so as many people can join in as possible, and we will have a LOT of fun, I promise. [see our Booking page for more info]
MIMOS is where you see shows from around the world, that constantly surprise, delight and inspire. Most are outdoors; don't forget your hat, sun cream and a fold up chair. And hope to see you there!
Rachael