The first official event of a year-long celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Wedding of Princess Grace and HSH Prince Rainier III was hosted at the Princess Grace Irish Library on April 2, 2026.
The talk was led by Wolfgang Frei, the nephew of Edward Quinn, the Irish photographer who photographed the very first meeting of the Prince and American actress in 1955.
Frei, curator of the Edward Quinn photographic archives, offered a vivid portrait of Quinn (1920–1997), whose lens defined the glamour of the Côte d’Azur during the “Golden Fifties.” Born in Ireland and later based in London before settling on the Riviera, Quinn became one of the most trusted photographers of an international elite that included artists, film stars, and royalty.
Central to Frei’s lecture was Quinn’s unique relationship with Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. Quinn’s discretion and professionalism earned him rare proximity to the royal couple, allowing him to document both official engagements and intimate, historic moments. Most notably, Frei highlighted Quinn’s photographs of the couple’s first meeting in 1955—an encounter arranged during the Cannes Film Festival while Kelly was promoting To Catch a Thief shortly after winning an Academy Award for The Country Girl.
These now-iconic images, taken at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, captured the poised American actress and the reserved sovereign at the very beginning of a relationship that would captivate the world. As Frei emphasised, Quinn’s photographs were not merely documentary but instrumental in shaping the public narrative of what would become the “wedding of the century” on April 19, 1956.
The presentation also explored Quinn’s broader body of work, including his coverage of Monaco’s high society events such as the Bal de la Rose, founded by Princess Grace. Today, Frei and his wife Ursula continue to preserve and promote the Edward Quinn Archive, ensuring that these defining visual records of Riviera history remain accessible.
According to the Director of the Irish Library Paula Farquharson (above with Frei), this opening event “set the tone for a commemorative year celebrating not only a royal union, but also the photographer who immortalised its very first moment”.
Save the date: On Friday, April 17, MonacoUSA will host a special Networking Event on the eve of the princely couple’s civil wedding in 1956. The Association’s featured guests will be the Groupe Nice-Matin who will present their extraordinary “Hors Serie” magazine which brilliantly captures in 116 pages this historic event in both English and French version editions.
Article and photos courtesy of Annette Ross Anderson. Article first published April 3, 2026.
International Women’s Day, Monaco was celebrated at full throttle this year with the inaugural Speed Queen Kart Trophy.
The feel-good, all-female amateur race brought girls and women together on March 8 for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition at Box 98 Monaco in Fontvieille.
Go-karters battled it out on the track between 10 am and 2 pm to secure a spot in the Grand Finale, when the fastest stars from every category went wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted 2026 Speed Queen KartTrophy.
Tiffaney Perlino, President of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco, and Speed Queen organiser, says, “I was delighted to see the energy and enthusiasm on the karting circuit,” Tiffaney says. ”There were drivers of all ages and many of them brought friends and family to cheer them on, making it a really friendly-family atmosphere. We saw a lot of happy faces.”
She adds, “A big thank you to the young talented female VIP drivers who were available to talk to the girls and share their passion and experience. I hope this will encourage more girls and women to seek out what this exciting sport has to offer.”
Madeline Lasalle walked away with the 2026 Speed Queen Kart Trophy, as presented by Tiffaney.
Trophies for best lap time in category went to: Camille Spallarossa (Kids), presented by Lina Salamanca, an emerging talent and winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi.
Carla Ackermann (Junior), presented by Vicky Farfus, a Monaco resident who finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.
Madeline Lasalle (Senior), presented by Ella Häkkinen, Monaco resident and the youngest driver of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.
Enriqueta Casanas Ficini (Masters) presented by Celine Cottalarda, Comite droits des Femmes.
And the Team Trophy went to Martine and Carla Ackermann, presented by Charles Flaujac President of the Karting Commission ACM.
Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 included 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch spread and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the Automobile Club de Monaco, who also supplied the magnificent trophies.
“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix,” says Tiffaney. “It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”
According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.
Watch this space for the 2027 Speed Queen Kart Trophy date.
For more information, contact comfemsport@acm.mc.Article first published March 9, 2026. Photos: Copyright Nancy Heslin.
Start your engines – this International Women’s Day, Monaco is celebrating girl power at full throttle.
On March 8, Box 98 Monaco at Les Terrasses de Fontvieille will host the very first Speed Queen Kart Trophy, a feel-good, all-female amateur race designed to bring women and girls – from age seven upwards – together for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition.
In a country synonymous with the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix, motorsport is part of the DNA. But while the drivers’ grid has historically skewed male, the fanbase is shifting fast. According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.
The Speed Queen Kart Trophy taps into that momentum with a day that blends competition, and celebration. Racers will battle it out for the fastest lap between 10 am and 2 pm followed by the Grand Final at 3 pm, when the fastest stars from every category go wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted Speed Queen Trophy.
Drivers Ella Häkkinen, Vicky Farfus and Lina Salamanca will be on hand to share their passion and expertise, offering tips on kart driving technique and talking about their future projects and ambitions.
Monaco resident Ella (below) is the youngest female member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.
Vicky (above), also a Monaco resident, is competing with Iron Dames and finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.
Lina (below) is the winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi, an emerging talent driven by strong ambition.
The trio will also be alongside event organiser Tiffaney Perlino, president of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), at the prize giving to present trophies, which are offered by the ACM.
“I have always loved motorsport and loved driving but like many women I never really had the opportunity to race,” says Tiffaney. “It wasn’t just about opportunity to be honest. It was also that I didn’t dare. It all looked so out of my comfort zone.”
That all changed for Tiffaney when years ago a girlfriend had a joint birthday party with her husband at a karting track. She decided to get behind the wheel and give it a go – and had the time of her life. “It gave me the confidence to try other motorsport activities and I haven’t looked back. I wanted the chance to give the same opportunity to other girls and women, who are hesitant, to try racing in a relaxed and friendly environment.”
Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 includes 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the ACM. Whether you sign up solo or with your daughter and her friends – or make it a family affair cheering from the sidelines at no cost – it’s a high-energy and highly memorable way to mark International Women’s Day together, swapping the usual panel discussions and ladies lunch for helmets and horsepower, and the next-generation.
“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix. It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”
Kasey Robinson has always been a champion for fairness. “My mother would tell me I was the child that made sure the little kids got their turn on the slide or was the first to share my snacks with friends,” she recalls.
Born and raised in the UK, Kasey’s sense of fairness is something she has carried into adult life and has “had the privilege” to build into a career. She shares the position of codirector at SheCanHeCan (SCHC) with founder Vibeke Brask Thomsen. The Monaco-registered non-profit association looks to inspire and support girls to take leadership roles.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Kasey Robinson talks about The Blobcast podcast.
The British-Jamaican says, “Monaco is a small place filled with luxury, folks can often be confused as to what sort of work needs to be done here. Access to education on certain topics, rights and resources need to be addressed globally and SheCanHeCan was an organisation doing their part in addressing that and I want to play my part in supporting them.”
The Monaco resident describes how she was raised to speak up for herself, to be informed, polite and considerate but she’s not sure about the label of activist. “It might just be semantics for some but I think at the core of what I do it’s about fairness, care and community. Sometimes I wish that didn’t have to be labelled and it was just what all of us did in our lives in the ways that we can,” expresses Kasey.
With a Master of Science degree in Gender from the London School of Economics, Kasey is somewhat of an expert in the field of menstrual health. In October 2023, she was interviewed by The Independent about the drop in school attendance for girls on their periods. A phs Group report on Period Equality: Breaking the Cycle found that teenagers in the UK are missing 54 days – the equivalent of 11 academic weeks – due to their periods. Cramps (82%) were cited as the main reason, along with embarrassment about being on their periods (19%) and one in 8% saying no period products were available to them.
“The most important thing to understand about stigma, shame and lack of access to period products is that it is a global issue. In our society it’s very easy to label this as an issue ‘over there’ but there is no country in the world that can yet say that they have overcome this.
“Lack of access to products is also an important topic as again it affects so many of us. One might first think of a girl in a village in a remote part of the world but it also includes the number of young people in the UK who cannot afford to buy period products or even a student in a school in Monaco who can’t go to the toilet and get the products they need such as toilet paper and soap and so either have to go without or pluck up the courage to go and ask the school wellbeing officer. All of these examples indicate lack of access.”
Embarrassment about periods is impacting young people’s education. “The shame and stigma is ultimately rooted in sexism; there is a long and dark history of women and menstruating bodies being otherised, ignored, reduced and silenced and sadly that legacy is still alive today. It might come in different forms in different places but the fact that most people don’t say the word ‘period’ out loud and instead use code words like ‘time of the month’ or as they say in French, les ragnagnas, is evidence of that legacy of shaming periods.”
Kasey adds that research also shows that teachers don’t have adequate knowledge about periods and menstrual care and so there is a risk of the same stigmas being perpetuated in classrooms. “Teachers are some of the most hard-working people in the world and many are working in underfunded schools with limited time and access to learning resources.”
She is hoping The Blobcast – a podcast about “literally all things periods” – will help to address the resource gap. She was brought on as host by the phs Group. “I had already had two television appearances in the UK on the topic of periods and so I was lucky enough to add this to my list of community outreach work.” Guest experts join her in four “eye-opening episodes that cover everything from pain, shame, period basics, to products and their costs.”
As an EDI & Anti-Racism Specialist, Kasey recognises hiding your feelings creates problems. “If you ask the average person on the street, they’ll probably tell you they never had a proper period education in school or at their workplace. Periods are a normal, healthy part of life but they remain a taboo, a secret and something that many people do not feel comfortable talking about openly.”
SCHC are changing that. “Through our work, campaigning and outreach efforts we are closing that gap on access and education when it comes to period health. With support from the Monaco government we are going into schools to give them workshops on period wellbeing and confidence – with boys too! Not only this but our workshops have been delivered in schools across the Côte d’Azur and by September 2024 we will have installed period product distributors in ALL Monaco schools. This is HUGE.”
And while Kasey is immensely proud of this achievement, she says there is more work to be to done. “We want to see every company, restaurant, hotel and establishment with toilets provide free period products so that Monaco can be the first country in the world to do so!”
Along with the in-school workshops, SCHC have developed a period guide that has been created with a local gynaecologist to inform young people and answer their questions about periods. “We know that a lot of young people rely on social media to get informed about topics the grown-ups around them don’t want to talk about. While that’s okay in some respects, when it comes to their health and wellbeing, young people need to be getting a comprehensive education at home and school before they’re on socials so that they are equipped to more responsibly navigate the misinformation that they might come across online. Please get in touch if your schools need copies of the period guide.”
May 28 is Menstrual Hygiene Day, or what SCHC refer to Menstrual Health Day because words “sanitary” and “hygiene” sends the message that periods are unsanitary or unhygienic. “This day is super important but it’s also about our ongoing work. And we have a pretty exciting announcement to make soon about period products in Monaco … so watch this space!”
Article first published May 28, 2024. All photos and video copyright Good News Monaco.
Founded nearly 85 years ago by the educationalist Kurt Hahn, Outward Bound was built on a simple, unfashionable belief: character matters as much as academic achievement. Kurt noticed that when people were placed in challenging outdoor situations – cold, tired, and occasionally lost in nature – they grew. Confidence increased. Friendships formed. Self-expectations were exceeded.
Outward Bound programmes continue to embrace this philosophy. Students hike through mountainous terrain, scramble through gorges, climb rock faces, jump off cliffs, paddle rivers, and cook and sleep outdoors. Phones and social media are left behind. It is not designed to be easy, and that is point.
“For teenagers in an Outward Bound programme, being outdoors accelerates self-discovery by removing familiar comforts and forcing real responses to challenge,” says Debbie Gorski, General Secretary of Outward Bound Monaco.
“This is a life-changing personal development experience, with both mental and physical challenges, that enhances team working and leadership skills and confidence building. For these students, facing uncertainty and shared hardship reveals resilience and fears more honestly than a classroom can.”
Each year, Outward Bound Monaco students, aged 10 to 17, are escorted from Nice airport to centres in the Lake District, West Wales and Scotland. They return happily tired, muddier, and changed – with a supply of stories to tell instead of stories to show.
“The skills they have learned – perseverance, confidence, teamwork, and adaptability – carry directly into school, work, and home life, where challenges rarely come with clear paths or easy solutions,” says Debbie, who also does marketing, communications and PR for the Monaco chapter. “They realise that effort, resilience and calmness under pressure matter more than comfort.”
Courses run one, two or three weeks with prices ranging from €1,499 to €3,099. “At the moment, we are offering an Early Bird discount for anyone who books before January 31. And, more importantly we believe that any young person who wants to go on an Outward Bound programme should be able to do so. If you need financial assistance to pay for a course, please ask us.”
Outward Bound Monaco is a registered association in the Principality since 2004. “We are extremely honoured to have HSH Prince Albert as our Patron. He is incredibly supportive to us and always seems to enjoy meeting our triumphant excited students.”
Debbie adds, “Without phones or status symbols, our Monaco Outward Bound students learn more about who they are under pressure, how they rely on others, and that confidence often grows not from ease and luxury, but from enduring difficulty and succeeding anyway.”
For more information or to book a place, visit the website or send enquiries by email.
Article first published January 29, 2026.Photos Outward Bound Monaco Facebook.
Every year, the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) Group, the Principality’s largest private employer, holds a grande braderie for their employees. In 2025, the sale of some 800 items of furniture, tableware, and decorative objects from SBM establishments raised €14,237.
“Since its inception, SBM has been closely linked to life in Monaco. Supporting those who are committed to the community is therefore a priority for us,” says SBM President Stéphane Valeri, who on January 16 presented a cheque to Valérie Barilaro, president of Ecoute Cancer Réconfort Monaco.
Valérie has been president for the past ten years, and Princess Stephanie is the honorary president.
Photo: Manuel Vitali/Direction de la Communication
I had the genuine pleasure to meet Valérie and learn about Ecoute Cancer Réconfort at a MonacoUSA event, the first after the pandemic lockdown. The Monegasque association was created in 1992.
Cancer support is something Valérie Barilaro knows all about. “My father, who left too soon and too young, died of cancer 27 years ago. And as a beautician, which is about wellbeing, touch and listening, I naturally leaned towards helping and supporting others, in particular with Ecoute Cancer Réconfort.”
“Thirty years ago, support did not really exist for cancer patients,” explains Valérie. “Our first president, Martine Vacarezza, realised there is an emptiness when you come out of heavy treatments after spending months going to the hospital almost daily. Overnight there is nothing left, no more appointments for three months for that first post-cancer assessment. On the outside everything seems great but for a cancer patient a deep anxiety sets in with the loss of those reassuring hospital landmarks – meeting doctors, routine tests – even if you just want to take your life back.”
Martine had the idea of setting up a support hotline but Ecoute Cancer Réconfort’s founding members quickly understood that more was needed. In the days before VLS (Véhicule Sanitaire Léger/Light Medical Vehicle) taxis that were reimbursed drove people to the hospital, the association offered a car service driven by volunteers to get cancer patients to their treatments. Over time, with a few succeeding presidents, the association evolved with volunteers keeping cancer patients company during chemotherapy.
In 2009, the life-changing Espace Mieux Etre opened its doors at l’Atalante in Fontvieille. This non-medical day care center specialises in free cancer support care provided by seasoned professionals, from psychologists who also practice art therapy through drawing, writing or painting to naturopaths (energy, plantar reflexology, mindfulness meditation, advice on nutrition). Socio-aesthetics (social and aesthetic care) is also on the menu to help manage self-image and confidence in a post-cancer world with treatment side-effects on the skin and nails, as well as alopecia and scarring. Espace Mieux Etre likewise offers sport activities essential to rehabilitation, including tai chi, yoga and hiking, as well as various workshops throughout of the year, in particular, a “self-esteem weekend”.
For anyone like me who has witnessed a family member or friend undergo cancer treatment, this association hits home. Espace Mieux Etre is open to anyone affected by cancer, undergoing treatment or in remission, as well as their families and loved ones, in Monaco and its surroundings.
One cancer patient shares, “There is no way to absorb the news of a doctor announcing face-to-face: ‘You have cancer.’ Time stops and quickly you enter into another world. You do what you have to do but it is not enough. Ecoute Cancer Réconfort is the beginning of mental recovery, a new way of absorbing your sickness. Providing all the various help you need, physical and psychological, in parallel to the treatments, they help you to regain your self-esteem, your strength and advance in your new life. They are not an option, they are an absolute necessity to your full recovery.”
Another expresses, “Ecoute Cancer Réconfort offers us a life despite the disease. We are pampered, like in a cocoon, and this allows us to face everyday life with greater ease. Psychologists, energy treatments, socio-beautician, meditation, conferences, hikes, various and varied workshops punctuate our daily lives and contribute to our wellbeing. The psychological support from each therapist, as well as the benevolence of the volunteers, allows us to go through this period as calmly as possible but also to prepare our future solidly.
“The association is a refuge, a bubble of oxygen and sometimes happiness in our daily lives, and helps us to grow, evolve and come out stronger than before the disease. We can confide without a filter, share our doubts and our fears, which we try to spare our loved ones. It is also very comforting to know that spouses or family can benefit from this support because they need it as much as we do. I am grateful to Ecoute Cancer Réconfort, I wouldn’t be who I am without their help.”
Valérie adds, “A supported patient is a patient who is doing better, who can express his or her fears, talk, exchange with a professional or another patient, or quite simply find an attentive ear, which may not necessarily be the case at home with family or friends. What we see is the evolution of patients over their time with us. Their evolution, their dynamism, their way of bouncing back from the disease when they are accompanied along their journey. We are not concerned only with statistics. ”
In October 2022, the Princess Grace Hospital Centre launched its BreastDay Centre devoting a single day to screening, diagnosis and pre-therapeutic support for breast cancer – providing results the same day.
That same year, Valérie approached Natasha Frost-Savio, president of Pink Ribbon Monaco to help them spread their message during breast cancer month and on Valérie’s initiative, all civil servants in the Principality wore a pink ribbon as a gesture of support and solidarity on October 6. “Even though Pink Ribbon specialises in breast cancer prevention and Ecoute Cancer Réconfort wears several hats, we are partners, like a sorority, and very complementary. Prevention is essential so that we have fewer serious cases on our end.”
Sign up now for the 2026 Pink Ribbon Monaco Walk on February 15.
The association organises a members’ dinner during the winter and lunch in the summer. “For Pink October we had a pink hike where patients could bring whoever they wanted. It gave us the idea to offer it to members for next year. Otherwise, there is the galette des rois in January and the general assembly which allows us to meet our members.”
Valérie says that Ecoute Cancer Réconfort is grateful to those who have supported the association all these years and without whom this would not be possible. “But we always need new sponsors, donors, members and volunteers to continue our actions because more and more people are becoming sick.”
CHPG’s BreastDay Centre is open Monday to Thursday 9 to 12 and 1 to 5 and Friday to 3:30. For more info, contact +377 97 98 99 55 or contact.sein@chpg.mc
Article first published November 15, 2022 and updated on January 30, 2025. Photo of cheque presentation: Stéphane Valeri Facebook.
Jodie Penasa was eight years old when a friend told her about ballet. “It sparked an interest for me for some reason,” she remembers fondly. “And when I asked my mum if I could go to dance classes, she was shocked. I was a very shy child.”
Once Jodie put on her ballet shoes, she was hooked. “Even though I began dancing quite late, I had found my love. Time in the studio was always the best and so many of my happy childhood experiences and memories are involved in dance.”
To be a dancer, Jodie points out, you need many qualities – natural physicality, musicality and strength. “In my opinion, the most important in life is mental determination. Yes, you need the talent but, like in many sports, that’s not enough on its own. The strength, flexibility and discipline of the art are, to me, the reason that children should study dance.”
She adds, “For any child, the confidence of seeing hard work and focus paying off is the general life lesson we all want our kids to learn. And the physical side of dance offers children a great start in practicing a good physical healthy lifestyle. Obviously, there are the benefits of confidence and posture, too.”
Jodie started Petites Primas last year with a few students and is delighted to finally have her own dance school and bring the British-style of training to Monaco. “I am so happy to now be at the new MC Dance studios in Les Jardins d’Apolline where the school is growing. The studio is a hidden gem for Monaco, with ballet barres and full-length mirrors, it’s a little dancer’s dream.”
When Jodie first came to the Principality some fifteen years ago with her boyfriend-now-husband, she expected the stay to last a year or so. “We never went home! I soon wanted to get into teaching as I had been doing back in the UK.”
Jodie was “only nine or ten” when she took on a teaching role. “I was given my first pupil to teach my old competition dance to which, looking back, was pretty young, right? However, it never seemed strange to me. I never stopped teaching after that.”
Clearly to be a professional ballet dancer you need certain physical requirements and from a young age Jodie was told that she didn’t have enough turnout in her hips. “You may say that would be hard to manage but it only made me fight more to stay at the top. I think this gives me a benefit in teaching, I always had to work harder to find a way. I still do today.”
After loving the competitive side of dance, choreography and finishing professional dance college, Jodie knew she wanted to teach. “Like most arts, mastering something takes time and patience but when I see a child grow and improve, I can’t stop. I want more. It gives me such pleasure to be part of their journey.
“And the fantastic thing about dance as an art form is that there is always room for improvement, your work is never complete. Dance is forever moving forward and there are so many more techniques and we have ever-growing knowledge that can benefit children studying it.”
Petites Primas offers ballet and jazz classes for ages 2 (“with the help of mamas”) to teens and students can sign up for a year of training with payment made termly. “The studio is a positive place for children to learn and express themselves. Whether a child is looking for a weekly hobby or wants to study a few classes per week, I wish to help them reach their potential and teach them about their bodies and how to control them with positive feedback and encouragement,” Jodie emphasises.
“During class yesterday, a little five-year-old student told me, ‘I feel like a ballet dancer!’ She was so pleased, so proud of herself. She felt like she was centre stage in a dream. It was such a sweet and innocent comment but made me very happy.
The mother of two admits: “My aim is to share my love of dance and hope it rubs off on the students. In fact, so many mums have shared stories with me and you can see the same light in their eyes when they talk of their childhood dance memories. It’s the reason they bring their little ones to dancing. We want to pass it on.”
Literary lovers take note: there’s a new book fair in town. The first edition of the Franco-Monegasque Book Festival is around the corner, on Saturday, December 6.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: HEIDI DE LOVE TALKS ABOUT THE BOOK FAIR.
Brought to you by a dynamic new association – the Franco-Monegasque International Literary Festival Association (FLIFM) – the Festival du Livre Franco-Monégasque will bring together more than 50 authors from around the world from 10am to 6pm.
The guest of honour and best-selling author, Bernard Werber, has sold more than 15 million copies of his books worldwide. His trilogy Les Fourmis (The Ants) has been translated into more than 30 languages.
“Bernard’s participation at this inaugural edition reflects the long-term vision of the organisers – to open the Principality to the great names of literature while giving visibility to emerging talents,” explains Raphaël Abenhaïm, FLIFM cofounder and vice-president.
Nathalie Cohen (Un fauve dans Rome) and André Peyrègne (Petites histoires féminines de la grande musique) will also be on hand for book signings and discussions, and the French-language literature promises to appeal at all generations and readers, including fans of manga and comics. Admission is free.
The first edition of the Festival du Livre Franco-Monégasque takes place at the Club Bouliste de Monaco in Fontvieille (across the street from Stade Louis II) at Espace Saint-Antoine, Avenue Marquet. Stay up-to-date with their latest news on their website and social media.
While you’re in the neighbourhood, don’t forget to check out the Christmas Kermesse at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille, also from 10am to 6pm.
Article first published on November 25, 2025. Photos and video copyright Good News, Monaco.
The Drama Group of Monaco has been performing English-language plays and pantomimes since 1965. The first stage production, the comedy Love’s a Luxury, was put on in 1974 at the Salle des Variétés in Monaco and attended by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: “‘Oh no they are not!’” says Drama Group of Monaco president Andrew Riley.
Over the next decade, the non-profit organisation performed in Monaco and on the Côte d’Azur but things really took off when in 1985 the Drama Group was offered “The Green Room’” at the Stade Louis II for rehearsals, workshops and Play-Readings.
“In the early days of the Drama Group of Monaco,” recalls the current President, Andrew Riley, “the monthly readings of plays in The Green Room were extremely popular with the local English speakers because there was no satellite TV!”
These days, with streaming services and social media, the Drama Group of Monaco continues its battle to keep performing art alive. Membership (with in-house auditions) is open to all enthusiastic English-speaking adult thespians, and, since 2019, youth from the age of 9. “Although it is an amateur theatre association, we pride ourselves on the teamwork, enthusiasm, and commitment of every performing member. Our only aim is to generate pleasure and emotion to our often very discerning public.”
“Our Youth Theatre weekend workshops and performances have helped to contribute to a wider theatrical experience for the local anglophone community,” says Andrew. “Traditionally we devote an afternoon performance of the Pantomime to various classes of pupils at Monaco schools, in close collaboration with the Education Nationale.”
Born in the UK, Andrew studied English and French literature – which included Drama – at university, and came to Nice as a student, eventually settling on the Côte d’Azur and becoming a Monaco resident. He started working for Barclays Private Bank Monaco in 1981 and retired nearly 40 years later in 2019.
“I started acting at school, which was an all-boys public school, so I played both male and female roles, something that I continue to do today in the Pantomimes!”
Andrew joined the Drama Group of Monaco in 1984. His first stage performance that year was a farce – as he says, “appropriately called” – A Bedfull of Foreigners. He’s had the “opportunity and privilege” to perform in some amazing theatrical roles including in Macbeth and Henry V, The Elephant Man, and Dangerous Liaisons.
“I’ve been passionate about amateur dramatics in English in Monaco ever since my first show, juggling professional and family commitments with my love of theatre. My first Pantomime was in 1996, I played Abanazar, the Baddie, in Aladdin.”
The Drama Group’s most popular tradition is, of course, the Christmas Pantomime, a highly anticipated outing for the whole family, from the age of 5. The larger-than-life characters delight the audience with their extravagance and often outrageous costumes.
“This very British custom is a light-hearted bundle of laughs, slapstick, and dance routines roughly based on the dramatization of a well-known fairy tale or folk tale. Traditionally, some of the key roles are played by a member of the opposite sex. The ‘Dame’ is often played by a man, and the ‘Principal Boy’ is played by a girl.
“There is much actor-audience interaction. The ‘Baddies’ are booed and the ‘Goodies’ are cheered on, and there is lots of ‘Oh yes they are!’ versus ‘Oh no they are not!’”
After nearly 30 years, the Drama Group of Monaco is bringing back Aladdin. Written by Ben Crocker, directed by Andrew Riley and Miranda Dawe, and choreographed by Celia Riley, the pantomime will be performed by 30 members, including 16 youth, on Thursday December 11 and Friday December 12 at the Salle des Variétés, starting at 8pm. “The text and the jokes of a Pantomime are continually evolving, so any returning audience is rarely disappointed,” says Andrew.
To get your tickets for Aladdin on Thursday December 11 and Friday December 12 (8pm) at the Salle des Variétés, go to the Drama Group of Monaco’s website.
Article first published November 20, 2025. All photos and videos copyright Good News Monaco.
Serge Thomas at Les Pierres du Rocher. Photos: Nancy Heslin
Healing stones used to be thought of as something hippies wore around their necks but in recent years celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Adele (who uses crystals to reduce on-stage anxiety) have helped build the “near-gemstone” industry into a mainstream market worth more than $1 billion.
Although medically unproven, gemstones are widely believed to relieve stress and increase positive energy, amongst a long list of other health benefits, depending on the minerals. And during the current health pandemic, Millennials are especially turning to the power of metaphysics.
Labradorite, for example, is considered a spiritual and healing stone for people who tend to overwork. “This stone comes only from Madagascar,” says Serge Thomas, who opened Les Pierres du Rocher two years ago.
Described as a “hard worker,” “great guy” and “artist,” Serge is widely known in the local community even though he has always lived in France. “I was a pâtissière (pastry chef) and owned La Boule de Neige in La Turbie until I retired.”
Not quite ready for those golden years and wanting to maintain contact with people, Serge decided to open a business on 32 rue Felix Gastaldi in Monaco Ville. “This used to be a souvenir shop,” he says,” but I didn’t want to do that or become a métier de bouche (food service). I love nature and stones, and as stones are trendy these days, I opened Les Pierres du Rocher.”
His clientele is made up of both tourists and locals from Monaco. “Of course, we had to close for two months during confinement and we completely suffered. 60% to 70% of my business comes from tourists, but there are no tourists.”
Serge points to his bestseller, a wall of bracelets, costing between €9 to €50. “It is all about the quality of the stone, so the higher the grade, the more expensive. If it’s just for decoration (or costume jewellery) that’s fine, but it is better to buy a stone of quality,” he advises.
He shows me a fabulous Lithuanian natural amber necklace (€58). “Amber is fossilised resin that is washed out into the Baltic Sea,” explains Serge, “and many people don’t know this but it is very easy to make counterfeit amber.”
He laughs, “As a professional capable of knowing a good cake from a bad cake, I can also tell the quality of stone.”
Another hot in-store item, notably with spas currently shut down, is the €35 regenerating stone roller to reduce wrinkles, which another customer tells me “is very, very effective.”
“Minerals have a link with humans,” Serge says and his range of healing pieces come from around the world, from Madagascar to Peru, in every size you can imagine.
For Christmas, Serge, who happens to also be a talented ice sculptor, is selling wooden house-shaped advent calendars that you can fill how you wish (€80 to €90 everything included).
There is currently 20% off sale on everything in the store. You’ve heard of people bringing home sand from their beach vacation? This Christmas holiday in Monaco why not pick up a stone from the Rock?
Open daily 10:30 to 5:30
Les Pierres du Rocher 32 rue Felix Gastaldi, Monaco Ville
