{"id":29901,"date":"2025-03-27T13:08:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.luxus-plus.com\/?p=29901"},"modified":"2025-03-27T13:08:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:08:11","slug":"la-comedie-francaise-a-theatre-company-of-excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.luxus-plus.com\/en\/la-comedie-francaise-a-theatre-company-of-excellence\/","title":{"rendered":"La Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise, a theatre company of excellence"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the World Theatre Day takes place this 27th of March, a look back at the history of a cultural institution founded three centuries ago: the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise. A company that is the pride of France and has welcomed many great comedians and actors.<\/p>\n

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Born in ancient times with the Greek tragedy and comedy, theatre has always been an integral part of society\u2019s entertainment. Carried by great names such as Moli\u00e8re, Dumas, Racine, Marivaux, Corneille or Beaumarchais, this art takes us on a field of plural emotions. Between classical plays and contemporary works, the theatre continues to attract crowds today and is constantly renewing itself to capture the attention of all audiences.<\/p>\n

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La Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise, the theatrical institution founded almost 350 years ago<\/h2>\n

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Founded by royal order of Louis XIV in 1680<\/strong>, the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise brings together the troupe of the H\u00f4tel Gu\u00e9n\u00e9gaud (which merges the Moli\u00e8re troupe directed by La Grange and the actors of the Marais) and that of the H\u00f4tel de Bourgogne. This unique troupe takes advantage of the monopoly on performances and aims for theatrical perfection. Moli\u00e8re, Racine, Rotrou or Corneille are in the first directories.<\/p>\n

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On 5 January 1981, French actors and actresses are linked by an act of association<\/strong> which will never be called into question. They make a living by sharing the revenue. This cooperation allows the company to cope with the arrival of Italian actors and the theatre of the Fair at the beginning of the 18th century.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Com\u00e9die-Fran\u00e7aise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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During this century, the French actors organize themselves,<\/strong> rearrange the theatres, change the place of performance and clash with the customs of the time. At the same time, the plays of Beaumarchais and Voltaire are a great success.<\/p>\n

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Despite the French Revolution and the world wars, the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise survives<\/h2>\n

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In 1789, when the French Revolution stirred up the country, the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise took the name of Th\u00e9\u00e2tre de la Nation for a while. As a result of these political events, its privileges were abolished, with the cessation of the royal pension and the decrees of 1790 and 1791 which abolished the monopoly it exercised on the French repertoire. However, civil rights are granted to actors. The last decade of the 18th century was marked by a collapse of the then ruined troupe<\/strong>. The actors dispersed but were reunited in 1799. They then moved to the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Fran\u00e7ais de la R\u00e9publique in the 1st arrondissement of the capital. A place that they will never leave again.<\/p>\n

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Different currents of theatre will make the company live<\/strong>, such as romantic drama, classical tragedy or bourgeois comedy. The repertoire follows the times and the most fashionable pieces are played.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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During the two world wars, the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise participates in the effort and tries to maintain its prestige. In the following decades, the institution evolved thanks to the work of successive managers, directors and directors. New venues are opened and the troupe travels around the world on theatre tours. Members and boarders work together to grow the troupe and honour the pieces.<\/p>\n

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The big names of the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise<\/h2>\n

Among the modern-day partners are Denis Podalyd\u00e8s, Pauline Cl\u00e9ment, Laurent Stocker, S\u00e9phora Pondi, Guillaume Gallienne, Michel Vuillermoz, Claude Mathieu and Benjamin Lavernhe. Laurent Laffite, Isabelle Adjani, Michel Galabru, Richard Berry, Anne Consigny, Jeanne Moreau, Annie Girardot or Francis Huster are many other boarders who have played in the entity. Pierre Niney was the youngest resident of the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise, joining the company at age 21. \u00c9ric Ruf has been the general manager of the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise since August 2014.<\/p>\n

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More than 3500 pieces are now part of the repertoire of the Com\u00e9die Fran\u00e7aise<\/strong>. At the time of World Theatre Day, the tricolour institution still enjoys a reputation for excellence and continues to make spectators laugh, cry and dream in search of a formidable performance. And the organization should not see its ticket sales decline. According to a study conducted by the Association pour le soutien du th\u00e9\u00e2tre priv\u00e9 and M\u00e9diam\u00e9trie, published last June, 12.2 million French people reported having gone to theatre during the 12 months preceding April 2024, an increase of 19.6% compared to 2022.<\/p>\n

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Une publication partag\u00e9e par Com\u00e9die-Fran\u00e7aise (@comedie.francaise.officiel)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n