Théâtre du Marais
Encyclopedia
The Théâtre du Marais has been the name of several theatre
s and theatrical troupes in Paris
, France
. The original and most famous theatre of the name operated in the 17th century. The name was briefly revived for a revolutionary
theatre in 1791, and revived again in 1976. The present-day Théâtre du Marais operates at 37, rue Volta in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris.
of the King"), at the Hôtel de Bourgogne
. The actor Montdory decided to create his own troupe, and situated it in the fashionable Le Marais
district of Paris.
The new theatre's repertory
was made up mainly of farce
s by Jodelet and works by Pierre Corneille
; Corneille debuted Le Cid
there in 1637. The actor Floridor entered the troupe in 1640, and quickly became a major star.
In 1643, the theatre was heavily damaged by a fire, and closed until its restoration was completed in October 1644. Upon its reopening, due to its technical innovations as a new theatre and being the first theatre to add a proscenium arch, it increasingly developed spectacular sets, with machinery helping to depict shipwrecks and cataclysms. Marie Champmeslé
and her husband entered the troupe in 1669. Competition with the comédiens du Roi lasted until 1673, when the Théâtre du Marais was dissolved to join with Molière
's troupe, forming the troupe du Roi and eventually part of the Comédie-Française
.
, and presented revolutionary spectacles. The house playwright was Pierre Beaumarchais
. This theatre was forced to close in 1807 by Napoleon, and it was destroyed in 1812 to make room for the construction of public baths.
in 1976. It temporarily closed in 1999, but was reopened as part of the Cours Florent
in May 2000.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
s and theatrical troupes in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The original and most famous theatre of the name operated in the 17th century. The name was briefly revived for a revolutionary
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
theatre in 1791, and revived again in 1976. The present-day Théâtre du Marais operates at 37, rue Volta in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris.
First incarnation (1634–1673)
The Théâtre du Marais was founded in 1634, at which time there had been only one theatre company in Paris, the comédiens du Roi ("comediansComedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
of the King"), at the Hôtel de Bourgogne
Hôtel de Bourgogne
Until the 16th century, the Hôtel de Bourgogne was the name of the Paris residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Today, the last vestige is the Tour Jean sans Peur, 20 rue Étienne Marcel, in the 2nd arrondissement.-Theatre:...
. The actor Montdory decided to create his own troupe, and situated it in the fashionable Le Marais
Le Marais
Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France. Long the aristocratic district of Paris, it hosts many outstanding buildings of historic and architectural importance...
district of Paris.
The new theatre's repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
was made up mainly of farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
s by Jodelet and works by Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille was a French tragedian who was one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine...
; Corneille debuted Le Cid
Le Cid
Le Cid is a tragicomedy written by Pierre Corneille and published in 1636. It is based on the legend of El Cid.The play followed Corneille's first true tragedy, Médée, produced in 1635. An enormous popular success, Corneille's Le Cid was the subject of a heated polemic over the norms of dramatic...
there in 1637. The actor Floridor entered the troupe in 1640, and quickly became a major star.
In 1643, the theatre was heavily damaged by a fire, and closed until its restoration was completed in October 1644. Upon its reopening, due to its technical innovations as a new theatre and being the first theatre to add a proscenium arch, it increasingly developed spectacular sets, with machinery helping to depict shipwrecks and cataclysms. Marie Champmeslé
Marie Champmeslé
Marie Champmeslé was a French actress.She was born in Rouen of a wealthy family; her father's name was Desmares. She made her first appearance on the stage at Rouen with Charles Chevillet Champmeslé , who called himself sieur de Champmeslé, and they were married in 1666...
and her husband entered the troupe in 1669. Competition with the comédiens du Roi lasted until 1673, when the Théâtre du Marais was dissolved to join with Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's troupe, forming the troupe du Roi and eventually part of the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
.
Second incarnation (1791–1807)
A new Théâtre du Marais was founded in 1791. It was built using materials recovered from the storming of the BastilleStorming of the Bastille
The storming of the Bastille occurred in Paris on the morning of 14 July 1789. The medieval fortress and prison in Paris known as the Bastille represented royal authority in the centre of Paris. While the prison only contained seven inmates at the time of its storming, its fall was the flashpoint...
, and presented revolutionary spectacles. The house playwright was Pierre Beaumarchais
Pierre Beaumarchais
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was a French playwright, watchmaker, inventor, musician, diplomat, fugitive, spy, publisher, arms dealer, satirist, financier, and revolutionary ....
. This theatre was forced to close in 1807 by Napoleon, and it was destroyed in 1812 to make room for the construction of public baths.
Third incarnation (1976–present)
The current Théâtre du Marais was founded by Jacques MauclairJacques Mauclair
Jacques Mauclair was a French film actor. He appeared in 30 films between 1950 and 2000.He was born in Paris, France.-Selected filmography:* Amour * Three Girls in Paris -External links:...
in 1976. It temporarily closed in 1999, but was reopened as part of the Cours Florent
Cours Florent
The Cours Florent is a private French Drama school created in 1965 by François Florent.The school is currently located on three nearby sites in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France: rue Archereau, rue Mathis and Avenue Jean-Jaurès, further along which is located the Conservatoire national...
in May 2000.
External links
Information on the old Théâtre du Marais, from CÉSAR. Information on the new Théâtre du Marais, from CÉSAR. Official site of the new Théâtre du Marais, from Cours FlorentCours Florent
The Cours Florent is a private French Drama school created in 1965 by François Florent.The school is currently located on three nearby sites in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France: rue Archereau, rue Mathis and Avenue Jean-Jaurès, further along which is located the Conservatoire national...