The Masque d’Or is the highest French distinction awarded to the best amateur theater performance. Organized every four years by the FNCTA (National Federation of Amateu Theater Companies), this national competition is spread over more than one year and throughout France. The 2024 final takes place on November 29 and 30, 2024 in Aix-les-Bains at the Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle.
The national Golden Mask event was created in 1982 and organized every four years by the FNCTA and the Charles Dullin Association in Savoie. It highlights amateur theater shows, the quality of which reaches a high level in its choice of texts, staging, technique and interpretation.
This demanding event is neither a meeting nor an opportunity for the competing troupes to perform once again, but rather a competition, which awards its prize to the best amateur theater show representative of the values defended by the FNCTA and the Charles Dullin Association in Savoie.
72 candidate troops applied until November 15, 2023 at the FNCTA headquarters, which transmitted the files to the Unions concerned. The latter selected their best shows, between one and three each.
With 1,600 companies and nearly 20,000 licensees (including around 2,500 under the age of 16), the FNCTA brings together those who share, as amateurs, a passion for theater and the pleasure of performing. The only federation entirely dedicated to amateur theater, this association is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Communication and approved by Youth and Popular Education. The FNCTA has an active network of field volunteers united locally in 15 Unions and 43 Committees.
In 2024, the final of the Masque d’Or is part of the program of the Charles Dullin Biennale, Aix-les-Bains Theater Festival, taking place from November 27 to December 1.
Three local troupes share the bill with the finalists:
Wednesday November 27
Les Brèves de Trottoirs, by Jean-Pierre Martinez, Compagnie I Tartufi (Aix-les-Bains).
Thursday November 28
Who is Monsieur Schmitt?, by Sébastien Thiery, Compagnie Les Gars de la Rampe (Rumilly).
Sunday December 1st
Oscar, by Claude Magnier, Compagnie le Théâtre pour Rire (Cognin).
