The Espace culturel SCELIA in Sargé-lès-Le Mans, a season that is half for kids

A municipal hall open to all

Mélissa Rouillon Benitez, who directs and programs the cultural season, welcomed us to present the year ahead. In September, SCELIA's free amateur theater festival hosted 11 troupes and some 1,350 spectators.

Three houses under one roof

Opened in 2001, the Espace culturel SCELIA brings together the show season, the music, dance, and theater school (about 600 students and 19 teachers), and the La Parenthèse library. It's a service of the town of Sargé, but the team doesn't look at where the audience comes from: “we don't look at where people are from, honestly we don't care.” Everything on offer is open to everyone.

A season designed for families

Half of the programming is aimed at young audiences, from babies to teenagers. The rest targets families and general audiences, with special care for those who don't go out much in the evening: some shows are performed on Sunday afternoons, others twice in the same day. “We really try to welcome all audiences, it's our goal to be as open as possible.”

• Saturday, October 10, 8 PM: season opening. The team presents the year with humor and music, the company Jusqu'à Maintenant performs “D'ici là,” a duo of dance and words about a romantic encounter, then everyone shares a drink.
• During the All Saints' holidays, the Fariboles: a music and dance show for 6- to 36-month-olds (October 21), a movie-and-snack session (October 22), and the concert “Ça pique !” for ages 4 and up (October 23).
• On November 13 and 14, teens from the school take the stage in “Martin Squelette,” a musical comedy in the style of a detective story. Free, by reservation.
• On December 5, “Jazz Magic” mixes magic and music, at 3:30 PM and 8:30 PM.
• On January 16, the big comedy date: Marine Baousson, Laura Domenge, Christine Berrou, and Camille Giry on the same stage.
• On March 19, the improv match is played in hockey jerseys, on a set-piece ice rink, on the theme of TV series.
• On March 20, the MARSkiri carnival: come in costume from 10 AM, parade through Sargé, and the morning ends with a dance party on the square. Free.
• Late May, the Semaines de la petite enfance, with “Habiter ensemble,” a show about cabins for children under 3.

In between, theater with “La Revanche de Godzilla,” about self-image and bullying in middle school (February 5), and a day of the Région en scène festival, four shows in a row on January 13.

Students on the same stage as the pros

What we liked most was the link between the school and the season. The students don't just take classes: during the year, they perform alongside the artists who visit, all professionals. On April 7, a participatory concert brings together children from Sargé, the musician Antoine 4mille, and teachers from the school. On April 11, a show about folk dances ends with a dance led by the students. In May, actor and director Matthieu Vanherpe creates “Chaos” with them, tailor-made for the season.

For parents who are on the fence: this year, the theater classes are full, but there are still spots in music, and the school teaches a lot of instruments.

Affordable prices

Several events in the season are free, and a SCELIA card gives you the reduced rate all season, for yourself and up to five extra seats per show. Prices for each show are on the SCELIA website.

This venue is really worth a visit: share this article with someone looking for family outings near Le Mans.

Getting there

• Address: 28 rue Didier-Pironi, Sargé-lès-Le Mans, fifteen minutes from Le Mans. Free parking out front, bus line 22.
• Tickets: online on the SCELIA website, at the front desk (closed Monday) or 30 minutes before each show. Credit card, check, cash, Pass Culture.
• Contact: 02 43 76 38 50, scelia@sargeleslemans.fr.
• The Espace culturel SCELIA page and all its shows on Sortir au Mans