Le Prato, National Circus Center in Moulins district, Lille, France
Le Prato is a circus center housed in a converted textile factory in Lille, offering flexible performance spaces for circus arts, theater, and dance. The building was once a flax mill and now accommodates various artistic forms and experimental works.
It began as an amateur clown group in 1973 and moved into a permanent space within a former flax mill in 1985. This transition from a small troupe to an institutional venue transformed it into a significant arts center for the region.
The venue supports emerging artists through residencies and co-productions focused on circus and theatrical forms. It serves as a meeting point for performers who want to develop their craft in front of an attentive audience.
The venue operates a programming season from September through June with diverse shows across multiple disciplines. It helps to check what is scheduled in advance, as performances range from traditional circus to contemporary experimental works.
The center extends its reach beyond Lille through a mobile program called Caravanes that brings circus arts to different communities. This traveling initiative ensures that performances reach towns and villages across northern France.
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