Théâtre du Bordeau

Théâtre du Bordeau (Le Bordeau) is a theatre and cinema at the heart of Saint-Genis-Pouilly, a small town in the Pays de Gex area right on the Swiss border. The contemporary, glass-fronted building opened in September 2007 and has since become the town's main cultural hub — a place where residents and visitors gather for live shows, film screenings and family events.

What can you see at Le Bordeau?

The venue centers on a 252-seat auditorium designed to host both stage performances and film projections. Large glass surfaces run through the building, letting it blend into the daily life of the town center rather than sitting apart as a formal institution — the result feels open and approachable rather than monumental.

Each season Le Bordeau puts together a program of roughly thirty events, spanning theatre, concerts, dance, circus, comedy and shows aimed at younger audiences. Since a 2019 renovation the venue has also run a regular cinema program: the auditorium is fitted with a 2K laser projector, Dolby Digital sound and a retractable screen that lowers over the stage, letting the room switch quickly between theatre and film use. In 2021 the cinema earned the Art & Essai label, a French classification reserved for screens that champion independent and diverse film programming, with screenings running several times a week.

The building is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility and equipped with a hearing loop, making it one of the more accessible cultural venues in the area.

How do you get to Théâtre du Bordeau?

The theatre sits at 18 rue de Genève in Saint-Genis-Pouilly (postcode 01630), right in the town center — a few minutes' walk from anywhere in town. Saint-Genis-Pouilly itself lies in the Ain department, directly on the Swiss border near Geneva and the CERN site, making it a convenient stop for anyone exploring the Lake Geneva area or the French Jura. The box office is open Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 2:00–5:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm; phone contact is +33 4 50 20 52 86.

When is the best time to visit?

The artistic season generally runs from autumn to spring, when most of the theatre performances and concerts in the main program take place. Activity tends to slow down over summer, though the cinema keeps running year-round, and school-holiday periods bring extra family screenings and workshops. If you're planning a visit around a specific show or film, it's worth checking the current seasonal program in advance, since the schedule changes from week to week.

Frequently asked questions

How many seats does Théâtre du Bordeau have? The auditorium seats 252 and is used for both live performances and film screenings.

Can you watch films at Le Bordeau, or is it theatre only? Both. The venue has run a regular cinema program since 2019, using a modern laser projector, and its screen earned the Art & Essai classification in 2021.

Is the venue accessible for visitors with disabilities? Yes — it's fitted out for visitors with reduced mobility and equipped with a hearing loop for those who are hard of hearing.

How far is Théâtre du Bordeau from Geneva? Saint-Genis-Pouilly sits right on the French-Swiss border, close to Geneva and the CERN site, so the theatre is roughly a fifteen-to-twenty-minute drive or public transport ride from central Geneva.