1/ Overall Presentation

1.1 Background

“Les Nuits de Wazemmes” association ( “The Nights of Wazemmes”) was created in 1986 with the opening of the “Théâtre de poche” of the “Nuits blanches” ( “Sleepless Nights”) (30 rue Brûle, maison Lille-Wazemmes). This 40-seat hall has allowed a number of young companies to get their start on stage.

After working for a year in hopes of improving conditions for creating, and out of a desire to interact meaningfully with the residents of this unique area, ZEM Theatre opened its doors in December 1999.

1.2 Objectives of the Association

The association established two objectives:

• To allow young regional creators the opportunity to explore the performing arts (with the Théâtre de poche as a rehearsal space) as well as to put their work before a live audience (with the ZEM).

• To integrate the facility into the neighbourhood and bring local residents into the facility.

The Zem Theatre is thus devoted to supporting emerging creation by opening its doors to young performing arts companies (theatre, contemporary dance, circus, etc.).

1.3 Outcomes of the Association

Our policy has enabled us to offer young creators a place to create, to evaluate the relevance of their projects and to give their work public exposure. Our efforts have already begun to be appreciated by audiences, professionals and institutions.

The Zem is now the only place in the urban municipality of Lille promoting amateur and/or emerging professional companies working at the experimental and artistically innovative end of the spectrum.

1.4 Outreach and Awareness

The Zem Theatre also undertakes awareness and outreach activities through music and theatre workshops for children, youth, adults and families, as well as through a festival for young audiences.

2/ Interview ( click here to download the whole text in PDF format )

With Nicolas Duchez, musical workshops animator in the context of the project “Musique pour tous” ( “Music for all”) with a mixed public consisting of parents, children, and people with disabilities.

2.1 The Zem in Wazemmes

“The Zem Theatre’s plan is to enable amateur theatre to professionalize. It is a place for dissemination, a venue offering courses and workshops. The programme is centred on emerging groups”.

“The Zem Theatre is supported by Wazemmes district authorities in the context of the city’s policy, ‘Contrat urbain de Cohésion sociale’ ( ‘Urban Contract of Social Cohesion’). This year it is developing an activity entitled ‘le Zem motive ses voisins’ ( ‘The Zem motivates its neighbours’), with the aim of mobilizing residents living near the venue through workshops and performances. Workshops and training for the residents, notably families, will be organized in collaboration with the neighbourhood ‘maison’ throughout the year, including during school vacations.”

“We collaborate with the two local “maisons”. The maison in Wazemmes encourages audiences to come to the Zem, while the ‘maison’ in Moulin supports the work we do for pre-schoolers.”

“To work with the local residents, it is essential to have a two-person team made up of an outreach worker from the Zem and one from the maison.

2.2 The Zem: audiences, population

“The Zem brings in regular audiences, mainly young people — people from the neighbourhood, but also from Lille and the wider community whose interests coincide with what the Zem has to offer. Zem’s work has taken root in the greater metropolitan area of Lille, and this enables it to extend its influence beyond its immediate neighbourhood. Through accessible programming, the Zem strives to remain relevant to local residents, in what is essentially a working-class area.”

2.3 Outreach and Awareness Methods

“It is important to reach out to the public in order to interest them in our work”.

“The real challenge for a venue like the Zem is to allow people to make it their own and to create a process. This is the approach that works best for people, and it’s the real challenge of successful outreach”.

“Music, notably world music and the use of instruments such as tambourine and rainstick, allow us to touch on all cultures; in areas where all cultures are represented, this can be a good tool for bringing people together”.

“We all have a musical affinity that makes us identify with one specific style more than another. During the workshops we must find a common aesthetic. That’s why I use instruments that are not related to a single culture and that are easily available, such as rainsticks or maracas”.

“During the workshops, my focus is on developing the participants’ self-esteem and self-confidence. The challenge is to succeed in developing their critical thinking”.