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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Coulommies Municipal Theatre was built between 1903 and 1905 to replace the Venet-Rival Theatre, destroyed by fire in February 1902. An architectural competition was launched by the city, won by two young Parisian architects who graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts: Charles Duval (1873-1937) and Camille Robida (1880-1938). The project is carried out on the site of an old tannery, and the building bears the date of 1904 engraved in Roman numerals (MCMIV).

The theatre is distinguished by its Art Nouveau style, rare in the Brie region, while taking over the classical layout of Italian theatres. Its rectangular plan includes a 750-seat room, dressing rooms, fireplace and exceptionally well preserved stage machinery. The interior decoration, sober and neoclassical, enjoys natural lighting. The simplicity of its spatial distribution avoids visual falls between the stage and the room, a technical feature for the time.

Several prominent personalities of the show performed there, such as the Brothers Jacques, Juliette Greco or Michel Galabru. It was also in this theatre that Louis de Funès made his debut in 1926, during an amateur performance for the 50th anniversary of his college. Since 2013, the venue has hosted chamber music concerts with international artists. An exhibition of photographs in the lobby pays tribute to celebrities who have trodden his scene.

Filed with the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments since November 25, 1994, the theatre has undergone few changes since its construction. Its original machinery, which is still functional, and its preserved architecture, bear witness to its early 20th century theatrical heritage. The hall was restored in 2007 to maintain its cultural use and accessibility to the public.

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