The Théâtrons festival, the only French-language international theater festival in Armenia, took place from September 14 to 28. It focused on contemporary drama and dance, fields that have traditionally received less attention in Armenian theater. The festival was co-founded by director and theorist Saté Khachatryan and her husband, Edgar Manoukian, with the goal of positioning Armenia as a center for cultural and artistic innovation. The event included a variety of activities such as workshops, residencies, and performances by artists from around the world. This year, a special week-long writing residency was held at the Artashat Theater, where five young Armenian writers collaborated with dramaturge Olivier Kemeid from Canada. The festival also featured workshops by renowned choreographers Mourad Merzouki and Hervé Koubi, who performed Folia and Les Nuits barbares, respectively. Armenian theater has long been shaped by repertoire theater, a model in which theaters maintain permanent artistic and technical teams and perform a set repertoire of plays. This system, often influenced by Russian and Soviet traditions, has limited the development of more contemporary and diverse forms of theater and dance. Khachatryan believes that this model restricts the growth of modern artistic expressions in Armenia and has worked to introduce new approaches through residencies and workshops. These initiatives aim to support local talent and encourage innovation in the country’s theatrical landscape. Khachatryan, who is also a linguist and translator, has been instrumental in translating contemporary French plays into Armenian. She founded her own publishing house, Aleph, to make these works more accessible to Armenian audiences. She argues that translations from Russian often involve an extra step that can distort the original meaning of the text. Her efforts have increased interest in French playwrights such as Florian Zeller and Yasmina Reza, whose works have been performed in Armenian theaters. This focus on French-language theater also reflects the historical and cultural connections between France and Armenia. The festival highlights the historical ties between France and Armenia, particularly the role France played as a refuge for Armenians after the genocide of 1915. The partnership between the Artashat Theater and the Toboggan cultural center in Lyon underscores the ongoing collaboration between the two countries. The festival is part of a broader effort by Armenia to strengthen its relationship with Europe, especially in light of its complex ties with Azerbaijan and the declining influence of Russia in the region. Armenia is set to host the 2027 Francophone Games, further emphasizing the importance of the French language and contemporary artistic expression in the country’s cultural and strategic development.