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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Trident, located in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, is a group of three theatres labeled National Scene in 2002. It results from the merger of the Théâtre de Cherbourg-Scene nationale and the Théâtre de la Butte-CCPO. The three theatres are the Italian theatre of Cherbourg, the theatre of the Butte in Octeville, and the Vox, a former patronry room converted to cinema and then renovated in 2000. This cultural complex is a major place of artistic diffusion in Normandy, attracting 25,000 spectators a year.

The Italian theatre of Cherbourg, inaugurated in 1882, is one of the last of this style built in France. Nicknamed the "golden theatre" for its luxury, it offers 600 seats and is decorated with sumptuous decorations by artists such as Georges Clairin and Louis-Alexandre Lefèvre. Ranked a historic monument in 1984, it replaced an earlier theatre, built in 1854 rue de l'Alma, considered too small. Its elegant facade and richly decorated interiors reflect the cultural importance of Cherbourg in the 19th century.

Prior to 1882 the Cherbourg theatre occupied several sites, including the Rue de la Comédie before the Revolution, and then the Rue de la Paix in 1833. The Alma Theatre, built in 1854, was already a prestigious place with busts of dramatic authors and a fireplace on the first floor. However, its lack of space led to the construction of the present theatre, Place du Château, on the site of part of the grain halls, which were built between 1828 and 1832.

The theatre of La Butte, built in 1986 in Octeville, is a 400-seat hall adjacent to the former town hall. The Vox, for its part, is a 240-seat room located avenue de Paris, recognizable by its bright red facade. These three spaces, managed by Le Trident, form a dynamic cultural hub, subsidized by the city, the DRAC, and the regional and departmental authorities. In 2007-2008, the structure hosted 30 shows and 132 performances.

The Trident also houses the company L'Élan bleu Compagnie. Its annual budget amounts to €2.3 million, with grants coming mainly from the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (52% in 2005). Despite an occasional deficit, as in 2005 with a loss of €36,609, he remains a key player in Norman cultural life, attracting a faithful audience with 800 subscribers.

Future

In 1991, the Cherbourg theatre was labeled a national stage by the Ministry of Culture. Following the merger of Cherbourg and Octeville in 2000, the municipal theatre Octevillais de la Butte is integrated, with the hall of the Vox rehabilitated, within a new structure, the Trident.

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