The program 2024

We French-speaking Belgians form a community barely larger than a small French region. Our self-mockery has always kept us away from any form of chauvinism, and it is often with surprise—and a certain pride—that we collectively discover the talent of our athletes or filmmakers who win awards in their fields. In the shadow of the economic boom of our Flemish compatriots, we sometimes feel as though we are not performing as well as we should, as if something is missing for success to flourish here. But what if these feelings are wrong? What if our self-image is too humble or too critical?

This year, with the support of Wallonia, we wanted to highlight the richness of our landscape. Sometimes, we overlook the qualities of a region we know well. However, when we welcome new spectators, we always find them extremely attracted by the beauty of Spa and its surroundings, the spirit and conviviality of our event, and the artistic talent showcased in the performances.

This year, with our EXTRA programme, we aimed to honour the tremendous creativity of our artists. Most were born in our region, many still live here, some have moved to Brussels or abroad, while others, from near and far, have chosen to settle in Wallonia. For EXTRA, we’ve brought their talent into direct contact with the magnificent heritage that forms the backdrop of our Festival. EXTRA also includes tourist circuits to showcase the attractions of our province. It’s a programme that’s resolutely open to non-French-speaking tourists from Flanders, the Netherlands, Germany, and beyond.

Our Festival has the rare opportunity to develop its programmes in magnificent venues that are part of Wallonia’s heritage, such as the Parc de Sept Heures, in a town listed by UNESCO as one of Europe’s “Great Water Cities.” This wealth of attractions is part of an exceptional tourist landscape combining nature, adventure, and the many facets of the hotel and catering industry. That’s EXTRA, a programme showcasing our region through its artists, heritage, and tourist attractions.

More than ever, the Spa Royal Festival is the must-attend summer event for the performing arts in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. With 35 shows, this 65th edition offers a rich and varied journey through theatre, circus, music, magic, comedy, and street arts. Our team is particularly pleased to share with you this programme, which we’ve been preparing with passion for over a year. We look forward to welcoming many of you to discover the gems we’ve put together.

If you wish, you can read this editorial and learn more about the programme on our brand new website, which is now available in three languages for the first time.

We look forward to seeing you and welcoming you.

Axel De Booseré, director
Adrien Undorf, president
And the whole team of the Royal Festival