Théâtre Libre (), formerly Eldorado and then Comédia (or Théâtre Comedia), is a 934-capacity

performing arts center Performing arts center/centre (see spelling differences), often abbreviated as PAC, is usually a complex housing performance spaces for various performing arts, including dance, music, and theatre. In some cases it refers to a single multi-use s ...

located at 4

Boulevard de Strasbourg The Boulevard de Strasbourg () is a major thoroughfare in Paris, France. Located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, 10th arrondissement, it begins at 7 Boulevard Saint-Denis and ends at 7 Rue du 8-Mai-1945. It extends the Boulevard de Sebasto ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, France.

History

The original venue was built in 1858 and became the Eldorado Café-concert in 1862. It became one of the leading cafés-concerts, with its audience described by the

Goncourt brothers The Goncourt brothers (, , ) were Edmond de Goncourt (1822–1896) and Jules de Goncourt (1830–1870), both French naturalism writers who, as collaborative sibling authors, were inseparable in life. Background Edmond and Jules were born to ...

in 1865. In 1892

Toulouse-Lautrec ''Comte'' Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa (24 November 1864 – 9 September 1901), known as Toulouse-Lautrec (), was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator whose immersion in the colourful an ...

produced an advertising poster for

Aristide Bruant Aristide Bruant (; 6 May 1851 – 11 February 1925) was a French cabaret singer, comedian, and nightclub owner. He is best known as the man in the red scarf and black cape featured on certain famous posters by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. He ...

's performance there.

Walter Sickert Walter Richard Sickert (31 May 1860 – 22 January 1942) was a German-born British painter and printmaker who was a member of the Camden Town Group of Post-Impressionist artists in early 20th-century London. He was an important influence on d ...

's 1906 painting "The Eldorado, Paris" depicts the patrons in the galleries. The original hall was demolished and reconstructed as a 2000-seat cinema in 1932–33. In 1993 the entrance hall and cinema hall were designated a ' ("20th Century Cultural Heritage"). In 2000 a new proprietor renamed the venue "Comédia". In 2007, American actor/director

John Malkovich John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and ...

directed

Ariel Wizman Ariel Wizman (born 19 May 1962) is a French musician, DJ, journalist and actor born in Casablanca, Morocco.de Chamberet, Georgia (1999) ''XCiTés: The Flamingo Book of Fresh French Writing'', Flamingo, , p. 209 Vincent Elbaz Vincent Elbaz (born 3 February 1971) is a French actor. He has appeared in many French television shows and films. His first major role was in the 1994 film ''Le péril jeune''. Elbaz received the 1998 Jean Gabin Prize. Elbaz was born in Paris ...

in ' at the Comédia.

Théâtre Libre

In 2017, under new ownership, it was again renamed, to become "Théâtre Libre". In recent times, the venue has hosted artists such as

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the fir ...

Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Sayreville, New Jersey in 1983. The band consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarists John Shanks and Phil X, percussionist Everett Bradley ...

Joan Jett Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin; September 22, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actress. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music#J, Godmother of Punk", she is regarded as a Pop icon, rock icon and ...

and

INXS INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, gu ...

References

External links

* Theatres in Paris {{France-theat-struct-stub