In Arras (Pas-de-Calais) on Saturday 4 July 2026, the Orelsan concert marked a new stage for inclusion in the Main Square Festival. For the first time, the artist was accompanied on the main stage by French sign language interpreters. We met them.
He was the star of the evening: Orelsan lit up the festival’s main stage in the main square in Arras (Pas de Calais) on Saturday 4 July 2026. This time we are not interested in the singer, but in the four young women next to him.
These four French sign language interpreters took turns reciting his songs with their hands. For the first time, shangxin was offered on the main stage of the festival.
“We did the Bastion stage with Romain Watson, last year with Pierre Garnier on the Vauban stage and Nord Noir on the Bastion stage, and this is the first time on the main stage with Orelsan, traces Aurelie Nahon from the collective “10 Fingers on the Run”, so it’s really nice that it’s becoming more popular.”
This shows that the festival wants to become even more accessible. Ideally, the entire festival will change, perhaps within a few years.
Ocean Kuro
Collective 10 fingers on the run
Translating song lyrics into sign language is called cover singing, and following female rappers like the young Bertox takes a lot of energy.
“That was great! Everything went very well, incredible energy from Bertox.“, Aurelie Nahon smiles after the performance.”Very beautiful show adds Perinne Dio, it was super dynamic, she set it on fire“.
Video. Reporting by Virginie Demange, Loïc Bonache and Jean Vlasseman.
video duration: 00h02min13s
The song ends at the Main Square Festival: “It’s so good!”
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© France Television
“This means that everyone will be able to truly enjoy our concert during this time.– the 20-year-old singer rejoices. What I mean is that if there are hearing impaired people or other people, they can also benefit from it. This is so good!
“I think it is helpful for deaf and hard of hearing people to better understand lyrics. I think it’s great“adds Alvin Primus, a hard-of-hearing festivalgoer who also wears a vest on his back that amplifies the vibrations of the music.
In France, hearing loss affects about 7% of the population, or 4.09 million people. And 88% of these people became deaf during their lifetime.
The idea came from a city council member for whom inclusion is a daily battle. “When we go out to the main squares and see that everyone is happy, for me this is part of happiness.“, enthuses Eleanor Laloux, Arras Municipal Council Member for Inclusion and Happiness.
“We immediately joined the project because we found that signing artists benefits deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as the general public.“says Helen Fenzi, festival coordinator.
Based on a report by Virginie Demange, Loic Bonache and Jean Vlasman.