Early Modern · Architecture

National School of Arts and Techniques of Theater

Lyon

The National School of Arts and Techniques of Theater (ENSATT) is one of the twelve national theatre schools in France and a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It was created in Paris in 1941 as the Centre de formation professionnelle du spectacle. During the German Occupation, the school was established at 32, rue Eugène-Flachat, then transformed under the Vichy government into the Centre de jeunesse du spectacle. It later operated as a free preparatory school for the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique under the direction of Raymond Rognoni. The school moved to 21 rue Blanche in the 9th arrondissement because of limited space in an abandoned hôtel particulier. It was later placed under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with Jean Meyer as artistic director, before becoming the École nationale supérieure des arts et techniques du théâtre as a technical high school. ENSATT was transferred to the Ministry of Higher Education after student strikes and upheaval, and it was relocated to Lyon in 1997 in a new building at 4 rue Sœur-Bouvier, despite faculty opposition. Several directors and administrators followed, including Thierry Pariente, Laurent Gutmann, and Leyla-Claire Rabih.

Map showing the location of ENSATT in Lyon
Location of ENSATT in Lyon

Nearby Objects

History and Institutional Status

The National School of Arts and Techniques of Theater was created in 1941 in Paris under the name Centre de formation professionnelle du spectacle. It is one of the twelve national theatre schools in France and functions as a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. In 1997, it was relocated to Lyon.

From wartime training center to national theater school

The institution began as the Centre de formation professionnelle du spectacle, created by Historique at 32 rue Eugene-Flachat in Paris during the German Occupation. It was later transformed into the Centre de jeunesse du spectacle under the Vichy government. At that stage, it operated as a free preparatory school for the Conservatoire national superieur d'art dramatique under the direction of Raymond Rognoni.

Because of a lack of space in an abandoned hotel particulier, the school was moved to 21 rue Blanche in the 9th arrondissement. It was then placed under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with Jean Meyer serving as artistic director. The dramatic arts learning center was later transformed into the Ecole nationale superieure des arts et techniques du theatre as a technical high school, with Pierre Roudy appointed principal and Jean Meyer serving as artistic director and deputy head. Patrick Bourgeois later succeeded Pierre Roudy.

Following student strikes and upheaval, ENSATT was transferred to the Ministry of Higher Education and relocated to 4 rue Sueur-Bouvier in Lyon, in a new building despite faculty opposition. Gérard Schembri served as director of studies and later succeeded Patrick Bourgeois between 2006 and 2009. Thierry Pariente began as director on 29 March 2010, his mandate was renewed for a second three-year term starting 29 March 2013, and Laurent Gutmann and Leyla-Claire Rabih were later appointed by decree in 2016 and 2020 respectively.