The (; "People's National Theater") is a

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

now at

Villeurbanne Villeurbanne (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Metropolis of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France. It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second-largest metropolitan area in France ...

, France. It was founded in 1920 by

Firmin Gémier Firmin Gémier (; 1869–1933) was a French actor and director. Internationally, he is most famous for originating the role of Père Ubu in Alfred Jarry, Alfred Jarry’s play ''Ubu Roi''. He is known as the principal architect of the popular theat ...

in Paris. Today, the TNP has a company of ten resident actors and the building is currently being completely renovated.

History

The Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) was founded in 1920 in Paris at the

Palais de Chaillot The Palais de Chaillot () is a building at the top of the in the Trocadéro area in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. Design The building was designed in classicising " moderne" style by architects Louis-Hippolyte Boileau, Jacques ...

by Firmin Gémier. During World War II, activity was suspended and the building was occupied by the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

. In 1951, Jean Vilar was appointed head of the new theater by Jeanne Laurent. The theater reopened at

Suresnes Suresnes () is a commune in the western inner suburbs of Paris, France. Located in Hauts-de-Seine, from the centre of Paris, it had a population of 49,482 as of 2020. Suresnes borders the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, ...

pending the return to the

. Vilar thought of the theater as a public service, and gave it a new image. Under his leadership the theater offered performances shown at prices and times to suit the general public. The TNP attracted a group of young actors including

Gérard Philipe Gérard Philipe () (born Gérard Albert Philip, 4 December 1922 – 25 November 1959) was a prominent French actor who appeared in 32 films between 1944 and 1959. He came to prominence during the later period of the poetic realism movement o ...

. Productions from this time include '' Le Cid'' and '' Der Prinz von Homburg'' by Heinrich von Kleist. Vilar hired the young composer Maurice Jarre as music director. Jarre scored 36 plays including the famous '' Lorenzaccio''. In 1963, Georges Wilson succeeded Vilar and created a second room devoted to contemporary writers. In 1972 the French Minister of Cultural Affairs (Jacques Duhamel) decided to move the TNP to

, near Lyon. Specifically, to the Théâtre de la Cité, founded by Roger Planchon in 1957.

Patrice Chéreau Patrice Chéreau (; ; 2 November 1944 – 7 October 2013) was a French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor and producer. In France he is best known for his work for the theatre, internationally for his films '' La Reine Margot'' and ''I ...

, Robert Gilbert and Roger Planchon took over leadership of the organization. In 1986, Georges Lavaudant replaced Patrice Chéreau and shared the leadership with Roger Planchon until 1996. Then in 2002, the current director, Christian Schiaretti left the Comedy of Reims to lead the TNP.Official history of the TNP

References

Morvan Lebesque Le Théâtre National Populaire in Le Point LII Mars 1957, Souillac (Lot), Mulhouse

External links

* (French only) {{DEFAULTSORT:Theatre National Populaire Villeurbanne Theatre companies in France Theatres in Lyon Buildings and structures in Rhône (department) Tourist attractions in Rhône (department)