Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Théâtre du Palais-Royal came into being in 1637, when Cardinal Richelieu built a theatre in the east wing of the Palais-Royal to break the monopoly of the Hôtel de Bourgogne. Inaugurated in 1641, he successively welcomed the troupe of Molière (1662-1673) and the Royal Academy of Music founded by Lully. The hall, destroyed by two fires (1763 and 1781), was rebuilt west of the palace under Philippe d'Orléans, the future Philippe-Égalité, which remodeled the gardens and surrounding areas.

In 1784, a small room dedicated to puppets, the Beaujolais theatre, was built in Joinville's peristyle. Repurchased in 1790 by Mademoiselle Montansier, she transformed him into a Montansier theatre, renamed several times (Variétés, Montagne) before its closure in 1812. After a period of decline as a café-concert, the place was reborn in 1831 as the Palais-Royal theatre, led by Dormeuil and Poirson, which made it a high place in the vaudeville and the operetta.

The current building, rebuilt in 1831 and rebuilt in 1880 by Paul Sédille in a neo-Louis XV style, is famous for its golden decorations and exterior metal staircase. Ranked a historic monument in 1930 (façades) and 1993 (inside), it has 716 seats. Associated with figures such as Offenbach, Meilhac, and Hortense Schneider, he remains an active private theatre, a member of the Associate Theatres of Paris since 2010.

Its history reflects the artistic and political evolutions of Paris, from baroque performances under Richelieu to the vaudevilles of the Second Empire. Fires, reconstructions and changes in direction (Lomel, Montansier, Dormeuil) illustrate its resilience. Today, it has maintained an uninterrupted theatrical tradition for nearly four centuries.

Access is via the Palais-Royal metro stations – Musée du Louvre, Bourse and Pyramides. The theatre has been run since 2013 by Francis Nani and Sébastien Azzopardi, continuing its role as cultural hub in the district.

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