Foundation of the Union of Limoges 1881 (≈ 1881)
Creation of the worker cooperative by Couty.
1910-1911
Construction
Construction 1910-1911 (≈ 1911)
Party room for the cooperative.
1971
Closing of the cinema
Closing of the cinema 1971 (≈ 1971)
Financial difficulties of the cooperative.
1986
Repurchase by the Town Hall
Repurchase by the Town Hall 1986 (≈ 1986)
Protection and conversion to theatre.
2002
20th Century Heritage Labelling
20th Century Heritage Labelling 2002 (≈ 2002)
Recognition of its historical importance.
2019
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 2019 (≈ 2019)
Protection of theatre and its annexes.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The theatre and the administration building, in full, as well as the facades and roofs of the auxiliary buildings, as shown in red on the plan annexed to the decree, located 20-22 rue des Coopérateurs, Place Lucien Berdasse and impasse des Charentes (CZ 35, 209, 210, 275): inscription by order of 19 April 2019
Key figures
Jean-Baptiste Couty - Founder of the Union of Limoges
Painter on porcelain, initiator of project.
Arlette Téphany - Co-Director (1986-1996)
First woman to run a CDN.
Aurélie Van Den Daele - Director since 2021
Head theater and college.
Origin and history
The Union Theatre is a theatre located in Limoges, Haute-Vienne department. It belongs to the network of national drama centres, responsible for producing and disseminating theatrical works in a spirit of cultural decentralization. The building, built between 1910 and 1911, was originally a festive hall for the Union of Limoges, a worker cooperative founded in 1881 by the porcelain painter Jean-Baptiste Couty. The venue hosted trade union events, cooperative meetings, film screenings and shows.
Closed in 1971 because of the financial difficulties of the cooperative, the theatre was bought in 1986 by the town hall of Limoges, which saved it from destruction. After renovation, it became a national drama centre and was labeled 20th Century Heritage in 2002. Its capacity, initially of 6,000 standing places, is reduced to 374 seats. The theatre also houses decor and costume workshops, as well as the Union School of Theatre.
Since 2021, Aurélie Van Den Daele has been leading the theatre and her school, promoting a creative ecosystem where life inspires new stories. The theatre offers educational programmes, such as improvisation workshops for schools, and collaborates with local artists and institutions, notably through an endowment fund dedicated to artistic creation and porcelain, an emblematic know-how of Limoges.
The building, registered as a historical monument since 2019, includes the theatre, the administrative building, as well as the facades and roofs of the annexes. Its history reflects Limoges' social and cultural commitment, between workers' heritage and contemporary theatrical innovation. The theatre is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the City of Limoges and the Haute-Vienne department.
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