Industrial · Architecture

Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier

Paris

Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier is a theatre building in Paris created by Jacques Copeau in the former Athénée-Saint-Germain. Its name was chosen after the street name to make the location easier for the public to find, and its emblem was modeled on a paving stone from the basilica of San Miniato al Monte in Florence, showing two doves. The theatre has a notable history of artistic activity and repeated change. The Vieux-Colombier troupe spent two seasons at the Garrick Theatre in New York in 1917, but its success there did not meet expectations. The theatre reopened in Paris in 1920, and Jean Tedesco became director in 1924, presenting works by Dimitri Kirsanoff, André Sauvage, Jean Grémillon, and Jean Epstein, while allocating creation spaces at the theatre. Later directors included René Rocher, Bernard Jenny, Marthe Mercadier, and Anne Caprile. The building was threatened with demolition in 1970, later abandoned, closed in 1977, bought by the state in 1986, and reopened in 1993.

Map showing the location of Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier in Paris
Location of Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier in Paris

Nearby Objects

History and Artistic Uses

The Theatre du Vieux-Colombier was created by Jacques Copeau in the former Athenee-Saint-Germain. Its name was chosen from the street name to make the location easier for the public to identify. The theatre emblem was modeled on a paving stone from the San Miniato al Monte basilica in Florence, which shows two doves.

The Vieux-Colombier troupe spent two seasons at the Garrick Theatre in New York in 1917, but its success there did not meet expectations. The theatre reopened in Paris in 1920. In 1924, Jean Tedesco became director and projected new works by Dimitri Kirsanoff, Andre Sauvage, Jean Gremillon, and Jean Epstein. Under his direction, creation spaces were also allocated at the theatre. René Rocher directed the theatre from 1935 to 1943.

During the war, Paul Annet Badel bought the theatre and created a jazz club in its cellar called Le Vieux Colombier. Performers there included Sidney Bechet, Claude Luter, Andre Reweliotty, Geo Daly, and Moustache. On March 30, 1946, Antonin Artaud made his last public appearance and gave a full-house lecture at the theatre. In the 1950s, the radiophonic show Le Masque et la Plume was initially recorded there. Bernard Jenny directed the theatre from 1960 to 1970 and was the first to stage Paul Claudel's trilogy at the theatre.

Preservation, Closure, and Reopening

In 1970, the theater faced demolition to make way for a gas station, but Claude Baks saved it by suing the petroleum company behind the project. Anne Caprile directed the theater until the end of 1972, and Marthe Mercadier directed it from 1972 to 1974. After the lease ended in 1974, the building entered a period of gradual abandonment. It was threatened with disappearance again in 1975 and closed in 1977. The theater was bought by the state in 1986, and in 1987-1988 painter Didier Paquignon used it as a workshop. It reopened in 1993 and later became one of the venues of the Comedie-Francaise, alongside the Salle Richelieu and the Studio-Theatre du Carrousel du Louvre.