Avignon Off 2009 The Garage International has now become an important and integral part of the festival.  Being the one and only non-French venue it has attracted and acquired a firm and loyal following of those who are interested in other cultures and arts.  Audience are amused and thrilled at the same time at the reception they receive when approaching the box office.  They are greeted and served in a friendly and polite mixture of French with Japanese and English.    We specialize in presenting Asian dance and English speaking theatre.  Wonderful combination, isn't it?    And 2009 celebrates 15 years in Avignon for Shakti and 9 years since TGI had begun with one of the most exciting programme we have had.   Egiku Hanayagi returns for her 8th consecutive year with her new creation, "Hommage a la Terre" (Homage to the Earth) with Tamaito and Hashoe Hanayagi.   We welcome Cecilia Cackley from Washington DC with a lovely puppet show, "Elle Lit" (She Reads) about a little girl and the adventures she has as she voyages into the world of the books she reads.  (no words)   Mark Johnson of Strings Attached from Zurich returns with his sequel to his successful one man show, "Confessions of a Culture Spy".  The sequel is titled "Fifi and the Fast Dancer or Chiens Parisiens et Sauvages Americains."  (in English and French)   Marta Rubio of Galante Productions will join us for the first time with a trilogy of monologues she has written, "Vie.  Trois Voix." (Life.  Three Voices)  (in English)   Marni Rice (De Joux Musique) from New York comes with her accordion and her chansons and "Chansons d'une Immigree:  Contes de Paris."  (Songs of an Immigrant:  Tales from Paris) (performed in French only on certain days and English and French on others)   Sudden Productions from UK will present "Playing Life" (Jouer la Vie) portraying a 'jazz singer' a 'tortured soul'. (in English)   Back to Asia - Shang Orientheatre from Taiwan leads us to the underworld with their physical theatre, "Bardo Todel" based on The Tibetan Book of the Dead.   Danses de l'Inde with Shakti and VasantaMala Dance Company with an array of lively and colourful Bollywood and contemporary Indian dance.   Danses Classique de l'Inde - Bharata Natyam by Shakti and her mother and guru (teacher).   Shakti's new creation for this year is "Salome" based on Oscar Wilde's tale and interpreted in her own unique fashion.   And we have a new collaboration between Shakti and Buddhist painter, Mieko Nishimura:  Vivaldi - painting, body painting & dance.  A live art performance to Vivaldi's Four Seasons.   We are open only from July 17-31 so don't miss out! Come and relax in our foyer and enjoy the serinity in the midst of the festival. Welcome to our world. Welcome to The Garage International. A bientot mes amis.