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Origin and history

The municipal theatre of Évreux, built in the early twentieth century, is the work of architect Léon Legendre, winner of a competition launched in 1898 by the city. Inaugurated in 1903, it embodies the municipal ambition to provide Évreux with an emblematic cultural place, combining brick, stone and metal in a Fine Arts style. Its architecture juxtaposes separate volumes ( vestibule, hall, stage) covered with zinc domes, with a main facade decorated with busts carved by Albert Misery and a mosaic signed Edmond Coignet.

The interior is distinguished by its two-level balcony room, topped by a zenithal dome, and a large fireplace decorated with stuccos and paintings maroufled by Charles Denet. The iconography celebrates the theatre, while the use of metal allows a bold structure masked by painted and gilded decorations. Sycamore maple planted in front of the theatre before the Revolution, classified as a remarkable tree, adds a historic touch to the site.

The theatre had an intense cultural life: directed by Charles Baret from 1903 to 1929, it hosted the Théâtre des Opérations from 1978, led by Jacques Falguières for 30 years. After 13 years of work (modernization, extension, work), he reopened in 2018 as Legendre theatre, integrated into the Tangram national scene. It was listed as a historical monument in 2002 and labeled "Twentieth Century Heritage", and remains a symbol of Norman artistic heritage.

Among the notable performances under Falguières' direction are classical works (Macbeth by Shakespeare in 1981, Molière's Le Misanthrope in 1994) and contemporary works (11 September 2001 by Michel Vinaver in 2008). These stagings reflect the artistic diversity of the place, between traditional repertoire and modern creations. The theatre also illustrates the municipal commitment to culture, with ambitious restorations despite reported structural disorders.

The initial project of 1897 aimed to complete an urban composition around the town hall square, relying on local artists (sculptors, painters, Mosaïsts). Today, the Legendre theatre, owned by the municipality, continues to play a central role in the cultural life of Evreux, mixing architectural heritage and scenic dynamism.

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