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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Petit Théâtre d'Auray is a town's iconic theatre, built between 1903 and 1907 in the city centre, Place de la République. This project is part of a broader urban reconstruction, including halls (destroyed and rebuilt in 1999) and a court of instance, which has now disappeared. The architect Édouard Ramonatxo, based in Pontivy, won in 1903 the contest launched by the municipality to design this versatile building. The first theatre performances were given in 1910, marking the beginning of his cultural vocation.

The theatre is distinguished by its hybrid architecture, mixing on the outside the eclectic and rationalist styles, typical of the period, while its interior adopts a coherent Art Nouveau decor, reflecting the aesthetic affinities of Ramonatxo. The room, set up in Italian, presents a stage on a gentle slope towards the ramp, a rare arrangement for the period in Brittany. The building remained functional until 2006 for the court, but its upstairs theatre continued to host performances, including the Sonic Nights festival.

Recognized for its heritage value, the Petit théâtre is listed for historical monuments by order of 23 February 2016. It also benefits from the 20th century Heritage label, highlighting its importance in regional architectural history. Owned by the municipality of Auray, it harmoniously integrates into an urban complex including the neighbouring town hall, demonstrating a desire to modernize public facilities at the beginning of the 20th century.

Today, theatre remains an active cultural place, open for rental for events and performances. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments guarantees the preservation of its interior decorations and structure, while allowing its adaptation to contemporary uses. The accuracy of its location (place de la République) and its Insee code (56007) firmly anchor this monument in the Morbihan heritage landscape.

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