Urban Châtelet

For the second year running, the Théâtre du Châtelet is presenting Urban Châtelet, the festival that shines a spotlight on urban cultures. As such, hip-hop – encompassing breaking, rap, DJing, graffiti, beatboxing, and more – takes pride of place in the programme. Of all these disciplines, breaking is a key pillar of this edition, as Battle Pro International celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary! It’s a chance to return to the roots – to the original battle format, where different crews face off inside a circle formed by the audience. This year’s edition also gives rap its due, with another anniversary to celebrate “entre nous” – which means “between us” in Lingala. The Franco-Congolese collective Bisso Na Bisso is also marking 25 years of existence, with a gala in the Grande Salle at the Théâtre du Châtelet in honour of a group that helped define the golden age of French rap.

Hip-hop has been one of the driving forces of urban culture, alongside other forms of artistic expression, dress codes, and behaviours born of the street. A melting pot of diversity, the street has not only created its own culture but has also embraced and reinvigorated others, such as cinema. Urban Châtelet is therefore naturally opening the theatre’s doors to another festival: the Urban Film Festival – a reminder of the strong links between theatre and cinema, and between Les Halles (where hip-hop was partly born in France) and the Châtelet. More than a movement (hip-hop), more than a trend (streetwear, sneakers), more than sports (BMX, skateboarding, etc.), urban culture is above all a language. And if there’s one genre that elevates language to an art form, it’s stand-up comedy! Born on the East Coast of the United States, in clubs and bars of working-class neighbourhoods, it reflects the city of today – if only through the themes tackled by stand-up comedians (multiculturalism, social inequality, and more). Master of the punchline and social critique, Waly Dia will close the festival with his show, Une heure à tuer! (one hour to Kill!).