Comédie de Paris

Comédie de Paris is a small comedy theatre in Paris, tucked at the foot of Montmartre in the city's 9th arrondissement.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The venue sits at 42 rue Pierre-Fontaine, a short walk from the nightlife of Place Pigalle. The closest metro stops are Blanche (line 2), Pigalle (lines 2 and 12), and Place de Clichy (lines 2 and 13) — all within about ten minutes on foot. Because the theatre sits between Pigalle and the Montmartre hill, an evening show pairs easily with a stroll up toward Sacré-Cœur before or after the performance.

What will you see inside?

The building was designed by architect Georges-Henri Pingusson in the "paquebot" (ocean-liner) style that was fashionable in interwar France — sweeping curves and porthole-like details that echo the interior of a transatlantic ship. The main hall seats 182 people, making it one of the more intimate stages in Paris: even from the back rows you can read the performers' expressions. The programme leans toward stand-up, one-person comedy shows, and humour acts — the format the venue has built its reputation on for decades.

What's the story behind the building?

The theatre opened in December 1929 under the name "Menus-Plaisirs." Under director Marcel Tallien, its stage hosted singer Damia, actor Julien Carette, and a young Jean Sablon. It was later renamed "Théâtre de l'Humour" and, until the Second World War, hosted Paris's chansonniers — performers of satirical cabaret song. During the war, Jacques Valois turned the space into a comedy theatre. In 1967 it became the "Nouveau Théâtre-Libre," then the "Studio-Théâtre" a year later, before closing. When it reopened in 1974, it briefly ran as an erotic theatre called "Love-Théâtre." Only in the 1980s did the venue settle into the identity it holds today, taking the name Comédie de Paris and becoming one of the capital's reference addresses for comedy. Comedian Jean-Pierre Bigard ran the theatre from 2008 to 2022, when a new team — Adélie Gintrand, Arthur Jugnot, Morgan Spillemaecker, and Romain Thunin — took over.

When should you go?

Shows run year-round, mostly in the evening, with a lineup that rotates regularly as different comedians and solo performers take the stage. Because the room is small, tickets for well-known names sell out fast — booking ahead is worth it, especially for weekend dates and around the December holiday season, when Paris's comedy venues fill up quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Comédie de Paris? At 42 rue Pierre-Fontaine in the 9th arrondissement, right at the foot of Montmartre.

How many people can the hall hold? The main auditorium seats 182, keeping the audience close to the stage.

Why is it called "Comédie de Paris"? The building has changed names and purpose several times since 1929 — starting as the Menus-Plaisirs cabaret, passing through a chansonnier theatre and a brief erotic-theatre period, before settling into its comedy identity in the 1980s.

Which metro station is closest? Blanche (line 2) or Pigalle (lines 2 and 12) — both about a five-to-ten-minute walk from the theatre.