Théâtre du Châtelet facts for kids
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Théâtre Musical de Paris
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| Address | 2 rue Edouard Colonne 75001 Paris France |
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| Coordinates | 48°51′28″N 2°20′47″E / 48.85778°N 2.34639°E |
| Public transit |       Châtelet    Châtelet–Les Halles 21, 38, 47, 58, 67, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 85, 96 |
| Owner | City of Paris |
| Capacity | 2,500 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1862 |
| Architect | Gabriel Davioud |
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a famous theatre and opera house in Paris, France. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, right in the place du Châtelet.
This theatre is one of two built where a small castle, called a châtelet, once stood. The other theatre is the Théâtre de la Ville. Gabriel Davioud designed the Théâtre du Châtelet between 1860 and 1862. This was done at the request of Baron Haussmann, a key figure in redesigning Paris. It was first called the Théâtre Impérial du Châtelet. Over the years, it has been updated and its name has changed. Today, it can seat 2,500 people.
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What Does the Théâtre du Châtelet Look Like?
The Théâtre du Châtelet is one of two similar-looking buildings. They stand on the banks of the Seine River, facing each other across the open Place du Châtelet. The other building is the Théâtre de la Ville. From the outside, both theatres have grand entrances with arches. Inside, however, they are quite different.
In the middle of the plaza, there is a fancy fountain. It has sphinx statues and was built in 1808. This fountain celebrates Napoleon's victory in Egypt.
How the Théâtre du Châtelet Began
The Théâtre Impérial du Châtelet was built for a special horse-riding show company. This company was called the Théâtre Impérial du Cirque. Their old theatre was going to be torn down by Baron Haussmann. He needed the space to build a new street.
The City of Paris bought the land for the new theatre in October 1859. Construction then took place from 1860 to 1862. Artists like Eugène Carrières and Armand Cambon designed the inside. The stage curtain was made by Charles Cambon.
The theatre could originally seat 2,200 people. The types of shows allowed were set by a rule in 1862. These included military plays, fantasy shows, dramas, and light comedies.
Changes After the Franco-Prussian War
The theatre had to close from September 1870 to July 1871. This was because of the Franco-Prussian War. After the war, the government changed in France. The word impérial (meaning "imperial") was removed from the theatre's name.
A very famous play started showing in April 1876. It was a stage version of Jules Verne's book, Around the World in Eighty Days. This play ran for 64 years! It had 2,195 performances in total. The only thing that stopped it was the Nazi occupation of Paris in May 1940.
The Théâtre in the 20th Century
In the 1900s, the theatre hosted many different types of performances. These included light operas, variety shows, and ballet. It also held concerts for both classical and popular music. For a while, it even became a cinema.
Many famous ballets had their first performances here. These include Igor Stravinsky's Petrushka in 1911. Also, Maurice Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé premiered in 1912. Many well-known composers and conductors visited the theatre. These included Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Gustav Mahler.
Since 1979, the City of Paris has managed the theatre. It was closed for a big restoration and reopened in 1980. At that time, it was called the Théâtre Musical de Paris. It was improved again in 1989 for better sound. Then, it went back to its original name, Théâtre du Châtelet.
For a time, it was mainly used for opera and concerts. The Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France played there. In 1993, the Philharmonia Orchestra from London began playing there every year.
The Théâtre in the 21st Century
In 2004, Jean-Luc Choplin became the artistic director. He started focusing less on classical music and dance. Instead, he brought in popular Broadway musicals. These included Singin' in the Rain and 42nd Street.
In 2017, Ruth Mackenzie took over as artistic director. She wanted to connect the theatre more with the people of Paris. From 2017 to 2019, the theatre closed for a big renovation. This renovation cost about $34.7 million. The main goal was to update the electrical systems and improve safety. The main hall was also restored to look like it did in 1862. Statues that were removed long ago were also put back outside.
When the theatre reopened in 2019, a "Robin Hood scheme" was started. This allowed theatregoers and sponsors to buy extra tickets. These extra tickets would then be given to people who could not afford them.
Since 2019, the ceremony for the Ballon d'Or award has been held at the theatre every year. This award is given to the best football (soccer) player in the world.
In 2020, Ruth Mackenzie left her role as artistic director. The theatre faced challenges, including cancelled shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2022, 32 dancers from the Kyiv City Ballet were in Paris. They could not return home because of the war in Ukraine. The City of Paris offered them a place to stay and perform at the Théâtre du Châtelet. This arrangement was meant to last "for as long as it takes."
