The GEM festival returns to Luxembourg for its second edition, offering audiences a chance to see contemporary theatre before the official start of the season. Taking place at Neimënster Abbey ahead of the traditional Theatrefest on Place d’Armes on 18 September, GEM sets the stage for a year of performance with a varied line-up that explores questions of identity.
This year’s festival focuses on the theme of identity and features four new productions, all performed in French. The programme opens on Monday, 9 September at 7pm, with 'Nous étions la forêt' by Compagnie La vie Grande. Staged outdoors, this musical and comedic work blends songs ranging from opera to rap, weaving an ecological fable into a dramatic comedy. The story centres on the residents of a fictional forest faced with plans to install photovoltaic panels, forcing both the characters and the audience to reflect on human and environmental choices.
On Tuesday, 10 September at 7.30pm, 'Arianne, un pas avant la chute' takes the stage. This musical theatre piece delves into the seemingly perfect life of a rock singer, Arianne, as she appears on a talk show before her final concert of the season. The play moves between flashbacks, imagined scenes, and present-day action, blending live music with psychological exploration and a tragic love story.
On Thursday, 12 September at 4pm, 'Damoclès et moi' puts three young adults with invisible disabilities at the centre of the action. Inspired by "Personne n'est ensemble sauf moi" from the first GEM festival, the piece follows these characters, and two other actors, as they navigate daily life and seek acceptance in a world where normality is constantly questioned. Written by Cléa Petrolesi, the play challenges audiences to rethink what it means to fit in.
The festival concludes on Thursday, 12 September at 8pm with 'The Loop', the 2025 Molière Award winner for Best Comedy and a recent hit at the Avignon Festival. The play follows a police investigation after the mayor’s son in a fictional town is accused of murder. Playing with the butterfly effect, the narrative plunges both characters and audience into a time-warping loop: each attempt to resolve the chaos leads to a fresh start, with events never repeating in quite the same way. The result is a fast-paced, inventive comedy about breaking free from cycles, both literal and metaphorical.
Each play is performed only once during the GEM festival, which runs from 9 to 12 September at Neimünster Abbey. More information and ticket details can be found on the official festival website.
