Théâtre Comédia

Théâtre Comédia is a theatre on the Grands Boulevards in Paris's 10th arrondissement, known today mainly for boulevard comedies and mainstream entertainment shows. The building is more than 160 years old and carried several different names before becoming the venue Parisians know today.

Where does the name come from?

The building at 4 Boulevard de Strasbourg opened on 30 December 1858 as the Eldorado, one of the grandest café-concert halls in Paris at the time — a place where audiences could eat, drink, and watch live performances all in one room. From 1862 it traded as the Eldorado Café-concert, part of a wave of similar venues that flourished along the Paris boulevards in the second half of the 19th century. The hall only took the name Comédia around the turn of the millennium, when new ownership shifted the programming toward comedy and broad-appeal entertainment.

What will you find inside?

The venue has two auditoriums. The main hall seats up to 931 people in a standard theatre layout, or 723 in a dinner-and-show configuration, when the floor is reset as a banquet space facing the stage. The smaller Petit Comedia covers around 200 m² and holds anywhere from about a hundred to just over two hundred people — a more intimate space also used for private functions. The building additionally houses a bar-restaurant and a mezzanine with panoramic views over the boulevard, decorated in a 1920s style with a piano bar — a natural stop for a drink before curtain or during intermission.

How do you get there?

The theatre sits almost directly above Strasbourg-Saint-Denis metro station (lines 4, 8, and 9) — the walk from the metro exit to the theatre entrance is about 70 metres. That makes it reachable from nearly anywhere in Paris in well under half an hour, with no need to switch to a bus or taxi. Bus lines 20, 38, 39, and 47 also stop right at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, next to the entrance.

When should you visit?

Théâtre Comédia runs a rotating programme, so timing your visit really comes down to what's currently showing — boulevard comedies and entertainment shows typically run evenings from Tuesday to Saturday, with extra matinée performances on weekends. It's worth checking the current schedule before travelling, since long-running popular titles can sell out well in advance. The building itself, with its boulevard-facing facade, is also worth a glance during the day for anyone simply strolling through the Porte Saint-Denis area.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the theatre without a show ticket? The theatre doesn't offer daytime tours outside performance hours — access to the auditoriums is generally reserved for ticket holders or guests of private events.

How many seats does the main hall have? Up to 931 in the standard seated layout, or 723 when set up for a dinner-and-show format.

What's the fastest way to get there from central Paris? Take metro lines 4, 8, or 9 to Strasbourg-Saint-Denis — the exit is just a short walk from the theatre entrance.

Can the theatre be booked for private events? Yes, both auditoriums — the main hall and the Petit Comedia — along with the bar and mezzanine, can be rented for corporate or private functions independent of the regular show schedule.