The identity of the festival

Every summer, the NUITS AURÉLIENNES breathe new life into the Roman theatre of Fréjus, reviving a thousand-year-old history. Fréjus, with its 2000 years of existence, dresses up in its finest finery to host this lively celebration of theatre, the true heir to a timeless tradition.

Even before the actors set foot on stage, the atmosphere is already a promise. The gentle embrace of the Côte d'Azur evenings, the song of the cicadas, everything here celebrates the Côte d'Azur, this land where culture is queen, where art finds its setting. Year after year, the festival becomes the beating heart of the cultural summer in Fréjus. The selection of works, the choice of performers, the unique atmosphere... everything is orchestrated with artistic rigor, for one and the same goal: to enchant the spectators. Because the very essence of these NUITS AURÉLIENNES lies in shared pleasure: through laughter, through humor, through the joy of comical situations and misunderstandings, everyone is invited to experience moments of pure bliss. Far from everyday worries, souls are freed, leave with a light heart and an expanded spirit.

Over time, the theatre house has grown and become more beautiful, driven by the passion of the actors and the organisation teams. Each visit leaves its mark, and sometimes, from generation to generation, the torch is passed on.

But still, this Fréjus signature persists, refusing the glitter and the easy way to offer an authentic experience, where the magic of the theater unfolds in all its splendor.
So, friends of the theater, let the curtain rise! Let the show begin under the stars!

The 2027 program will be available for download soon!

The pieces for the 2026 edition!

July 16 – Menopause

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes (without intermission)

It's much more than just a comedy; it's a complete show that successfully tackles a universal subject with humor, sensitivity, and kindness. Come share a real burst of warmth and a real breath of fresh air with other women… and feel free to bring your husbands!

Authors: Alex Goude, Alexandra Cismondi
Directed by: Alex Goude
Performers: Dominique Magloire or Sofia Morgavi / Marion posta or Kareen Antonn / Patricia Samuel or Virginie Bracq / Marianne Vigues or Isabelle Turschwell
Production: TikTak prod, Equitime4, Jordan Sarralié and Alex Goude present, by special license with GFOUR
Four women meet in a department store and realize that despite their contrasting lifestyles, they have one thing in common that no woman can escape: Menopause!
An actress struggling to find roles, a mother of a large family, a chilling businesswoman and a slightly too cool hippie humorously recount, sing and dance about "their side effects".

July 18 – Medical Confidentiality

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes (without intermission)
For the very first time in theatre, Michel Cymès, doctor and star presenter of health magazines, takes to the stage alongside a troupe of seasoned actors for a brand new and fierce comedy about the medical world.
Authors : Michel Cymes, Christophe Brun, Patrice Romedenne and Nicolas Lumbreras
Staging: Philippe Lelièvre (assisted by Axelle Masliah)
Featuring the voice of: Axelle Masliah
with: Michel Cymes, Philippe Dusseau, Jean Pierre Malignon, Clémence Thioly, Philippe Vieux
Production: Who loves me, follow me?

Four friends, former students of medical school, meet as usual at André's, their favorite restaurant.
But the evening takes a turn for the worse when the group's psychiatrist makes a shocking revelation: his patient, a highly controversial politician, is running for President!
From then on, the friendship cracks, secrets are revealed and compromises clash in the face of a crucial dilemma: should professional secrecy be broken for the common good?

July 21 – Muchas Gracias

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes (without intermission)
“…pure Feydeau, with a cascade of misunderstandings, where each lie leads to an even bigger one. Bringing together maestros of boulevard theatre, this fast-paced comedy is certainly not lacking in spice…”
A play by Fabienne Galloux and Charles Meurisse
Directed by: Raymond Acquaviva
Starring: Julien Cafaro, Roland Marchisio, Bruno Chapelle, Claire Conty, Fabienne Galloux, Charles Meurisse
François, an overbooked businessman, has a slight flaw: he forgets that his wife, Hélène, exists (or almost). Tired of being relegated to the status of a flower pot, she decides to teach him a little lesson by treating herself to a getaway to Ibiza with a friend. But then, the spellchecker on his cell phone disrupts all his plans and sows discord in his relationship.
Between hilarious misunderstandings, secrets that are no longer secrets, and improbable twists of fate, the evening moves at a frantic pace!

July 23 – Cyrano de Bergerac

CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Duration: 2 hours (including intermission)
A lover of words, language, poetry, a man of the troupe, a transmitter of emotions, Edouard Baer encountered Cyrano as an obvious choice.
Under the direction of Anne Kessler, a troupe of 14 actors will perform a masterpiece where tragedy and the sublime are combined in an extraordinary language.
Author: Edmond Rostand
Staging Anne Kessler of the Comédie Française
Assistant Director Maïa Godin Hadji-Lazaro / Dramaturgy Guy Zilberstein / Set Design Georges Vauraz / Costume Design Michel Dussarat / Lighting Design Yves Angelo
Production: JMD Productions
With Edouard Baer, Alexia Giordano, Catherine Salviat, Tito El Francès, Aïtor de Calvairac, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Atmen Kelif, Christophe Meynet, Rémi Briffault, Florent Hu, Telma Bello, Jeanne Fuchs, Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus, Michel Dussarat
Everyone is wrong about Cyrano. Cyrano is a rock…friable, multifaceted, sensitive, whole, distraught, brilliant, faithful, abandoned by grace and yet sparkling in heart and soul.
It's a bold undertaking to attempt to approach this icon of the repertoire. Thanks to Edmond Rostand, Cyrano has become a kind of national hero, an icon, a blazing star, but also a being of flesh and blood whose emotion must pierce the audience like the edge of a sword, an enemy. It is this duality that the staging reveals.

An emblematic place: the Roman theater

The Roman Theatre of Fréjus, probably built in the 1912st century AD, is an exceptional example of ancient architecture. Listed as a Historic Monument since XNUMX, this building has preserved its original walls, the location of the orchestra and the remains of the stage. The first theatre built in Forum Julii, it continues to perpetuate its vocation by hosting numerous shows during the summer.

In Roman times, this theatre hosted popular shows. These combined music, song and dance. Inspired by Greek culture, the theatre's semicircular plan opens out in a fan shape facing the stage, offering exceptional acoustics and visibility. Located in the north-eastern part of the city, near the Porta di Roma, the theatre's remains provide a glimpse of the scale and original decor of this monumental structure.

Renamed the Philippe Léotard Roman Theatre in homage to the artist born in Fréjus, the theatre was partly cleared after the Malpasset dam collapsed in 1959. Although the façade has disappeared, significant walls have stood the test of time, supporting the stands (the cavea). Since 2007, reconstruction work has been undertaken on the southern half of the cavea to preserve the site, improve security and allow major shows to be hosted again.

A historical setting

We delight in the beauty offered by the Philippe Léotard Roman Theatre. The end of summer days are magnificent there.

"Every summer, the Nuits Auréliennes are our unmissable event. It's the perfect opportunity to experience magical evenings, where the charm of ancient theatre meets the excellence of contemporary shows. After so many years, we still come away amazed and closer than ever."

Nadia and Jean-Michel, festival regulars