Babel Jam Festival Albi: Breaking language barriers through improvisation
From 24 to 27 September 2026, Albi, in south-western France, came alive with the rhythm of Babel Jam, a multilingual improv theatre festival where languages meet and stories are created together. Our ASBL was delighted to be part of this adventure, with workshops, artistic explorations and vibrant performances. Here’s a look back at three days filled with challenges, creativity and connection!
Dare, explore, improvise… in every language!
"Babel Jam is an innovative, participatory and collaborative cultural event that celebrates diversity and languages. It transforms the city into a space for connection, creativity and inclusion."
That’s the spirit of Babel Jam: turning linguistic diversity into a playground for discovery, creativity and connection. Over four days, the festival brought together audiences and artists through improvisational theatre, with workshops for students and entrepreneurs, introductory improv sessions and performances for all audiences.
We were delighted to contribute to the festival’s programme by offering activities for a wide range of participants, from curious newcomers discovering improv for the first time to experienced improvisers looking to refine their skills.
Workshops to step outside your comfort zone
Improv isn’t just for performers! Laurie Andrieu led an introductory workshop for entrepreneurs, offering them the opportunity to explore how improv can be valuable far beyond the stage: daring to take the plunge, embracing the unexpected, listening actively and building on others’ ideas.
Languages also took centre stage at the festival, with three introductory improv workshops: one in Spanish, led by Dan Gelbard; one in English, led by Billy Kissa; and one in Darija, led by Khalid Benaouisse.
Three languages, three worlds, but one shared playground: a space where we learn to trust our scene partners, build on each other’s ideas and let spontaneity take the lead. Because in improv, you don’t need to understand everything to start understanding one another!
More experienced improvisers also had the opportunity to deepen their practice through three dedicated workshops:
Multilingual Improv, with Laurie Andrieu, exploring how to connect beyond words and discover the creative possibilities of blending languages.
Improv in Style, with Billy Kissa, playing with different styles inspired by Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style.
Object Manipulation, with Dan Gelbard, exploring how an everyday object can become the starting point for a story, a character or an unexpected world.
Each workshop offered a chance to experiment, try new things, surprise ourselves and, above all, learn from one another.
Babel Games : the multilingual improv show
On Friday evening, it was time to take the stage with Babel Games, our multilingual improv show! Languages met, blended and became an integral part of the theatrical experience. Words were no longer the only way to tell a story: gestures, intentions, emotions and imagination took over, proving that communication goes far beyond language.
During the show, we weaved together French, English, Spanish, Dutch, Greek and Moroccan Arabic (Darija). We also drew inspiration from a collection of words, each opening a door to a different language and culture. From lo garric, the Occitan word for oak, to solomaso, the Malagasy word for glasses, and Sehnsucht, a German word evoking a profound, poetic longing for something unattainable or a lost paradise, these words became sparks for our collective imagination.
A multilingual journey
That’s the magic of multilingual improv: turning what might seem like a barrier into an incredible source of creativity. You don’t need to speak every language on stage to laugh, feel moved or get swept up in a story unfolding before your eyes.
Babel Battle: the first multilingual improv match!
And then came Babel Battle, the very first multilingual improv match!
For this one-of-a-kind event, guests from Toulouse, Albi, Atlas Impro du Monde Bordeaux and La Rochelle, and Brussels came together for a shared challenge: improvising as a team, despite—or rather, thanks to—the diversity of languages.
A true experimental playground, where daring to take risks, listening, adapting and trusting the power of collective creativity were essential. Joining the languages already in play were Italian, Réunion Creole and even a little Thai!
Beyond the artistic challenge, this match was above all a wonderful opportunity to bring together improvisers from different backgrounds and share the joy of creating something together.
Three Days of Meaningful Encounters and Collective Energy
A festival like Babel Jam is about so much more than its programme. It also comes alive through backstage exchanges, conversations between workshops and all the encounters that keep the experience going long after the final show.
Taking part in this edition of Babel Jam gave our organisation the opportunity to take on new challenges, share our approach to improvisation and connect with people who are just as passionate about improv and the richness of languages as we are.
And behind all this wonderful energy lies an enormous amount of work: the dedication of the organisers, volunteers and everyone who helped bring the festival to life. Putting together such a diverse programme, welcoming participants, coordinating activities and keeping the festival running takes commitment, creativity and a whole lot of heart. A huge thank you to everyone who made this adventure possible!
Sometimes, all it takes to start understanding one another is a simple “Yes, and…”
Thank you to Mikaël Le Gallo and Audrey Picaudou for this wonderful human and artistic adventure. Long live Babel Jam!
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