Théâtre de Paris

Théâtre de Paris is one of the French capital's oldest working theatres, standing at 15 rue Blanche in the 9th arrondissement, just steps from the Église de la Sainte-Trinité.

What's the story behind this address?

The plot on rue Blanche has hosted theatrical ventures since the 18th century. The Duke of Richelieu had the first building erected here in 1730, and by the century's end Baron d'Ogny had taken over the property, renaming it Folie-Richelieu. Early in the 19th century it was turned into a park, and in 1851, during Haussmann's redevelopment of Paris, the site was almost entirely cleared to make room for the nearby Sainte-Trinité church, with part of the remaining land later hosting a roller-skating rink.

The rink came down in 1891, clearing the way for the Nouveau-Théâtre, opened under director Aurélien Lugné-Poe. The venue took its current name, Théâtre de Paris, in 1918 under impresario Léon Volterra. In 1955 actress Elvire Popesco, together with Hubert de Mallet, took charge of the house and opened a second, smaller stage then called Théâtre Moderne. Actor-director Stéphane Hillel has run the theatre since 2003.

What will you find inside?

The Théâtre de Paris is really two stages under one roof. The Grande Salle, the main auditorium, seats around 1,100 and hosts the bulk of the larger productions. A second, more intimate room on the second floor now carries the name Salle Réjane, honouring the turn-of-the-century actress, and is also known as the Petit Théâtre de Paris. It's air-conditioned but has no lift, so it isn't accessible to visitors with reduced mobility — unlike the main hall, which is.

The theatre still runs as a working repertory house, staging plays and mainstream entertainment year-round, with tickets bookable online or by phone.

How do you get there?

The theatre sits in a well-connected stretch of the 9th arrondissement. The closest metro stops are Trinité – d'Estienne d'Orves (line 12) and Blanche (line 2), with Saint-Lazare (lines 3, 12, 13, 14), Liège (line 13) and Chaussée d'Antin – La Fayette (lines 7 and 9) all within easy walking distance — the last one being handy if you're coming from the Opéra area.

When should you visit?

The Théâtre de Paris operates year-round, with the seasonal break typical of French theatres over summer. Programming rotates by season, so it's worth checking what's on before you travel and booking ahead for anything playing in the Grande Salle, where the bigger shows tend to sell out.

Frequently asked questions

How many people can the Théâtre de Paris seat? The main Grande Salle holds around 1,100 people, while the smaller Salle Réjane — the former Petit Théâtre de Paris — seats roughly 300.

Why is the smaller hall called Salle Réjane? It's named after Réjane, a celebrated French actress from the turn of the 20th century; Elvire Popesco opened the room under that name in 1955.

What's the easiest metro route to the theatre? Get off at Trinité – d'Estienne d'Orves (line 12) or Blanche (line 2) — both are a short walk from the entrance on rue Blanche.

Is the theatre wheelchair accessible? The main hall is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, but the Salle Réjane, upstairs with no lift, is not.