Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The theatre of Les Bouffes-du-Nord, located at 37 bis boulevard de la Chapelle in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, is built at the end of the 19th century on the foundations of an abandoned barracks. He was commissioned by architect Émile Leménil and opened in 1876 as a café-concert with a capacity of 503 seats. Its eccentric location in the popular area of La Chapelle, which was then underserved and poorly lit, makes it difficult to attract its audience to Paris.

In 1885, Abel Ballet bought the theatre and set up historical frescoes and melodramas, such as La Reine Margot d'Alexandre Dumas with Yvette Guilbert. From 1893 to 1894 he hosted the Lugné-Poe Theatre Company, before being taken over in 1896 by Emmanuel Clot and G. Dublay. Entirely restored and electrified in 1904, it took the name of the theatre Molière and program of authors like Henry Kistemaeckers and Gaston Leroux. The First World War led to its temporary closure, before a reopening in 1917 under its original name, as a music-hall led by Oscar Dufrenne and Henri Varna.

In the 20th century, theatre went through periods of decline and rebirth. Threatened by destruction after an administrative closure in 1952 for non-compliance with safety standards, it was saved in 1969 by the Italian entrepreneur Narcisse Zecchinel. With the International Centre for Theatrical Research by Peter Brook and Micheline Rozan, he reopened in 1974 with Timon of Athens, marking the beginning of a new artistic era. Ranked a historic monument in 1993, it remains a must-see place in the Parisian cultural landscape, mixing theatre, opera and concerts.

The theatre has hosted major figures from the show, such as Jeanne Moreau, Zizi Jeanmaire, or Lambert Wilson, as well as major stages, including Peter Brook (La Tragédie de Carmen, 1981) and Denis Podalydès (Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, 2012-2015). In 2020, painter Gérard Fromanger decorates the ceiling of the foyer, adding a contemporary touch to this place full of history. Today, it continues to offer eclectic programming, combining heritage and creation.

Architecturally, the building is distinguished by its original ellipse plan, characteristic of its original design. Its exact address, 37 bis boulevard de la Chapelle, makes it a landmark accessible via the metro station La Chapelle. Private property, it embodies both the heritage of Parisian café-concerts and modern stage innovation.

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