La Gaîté Lyrique
| Théâtre de la Gaîté, Théâtre de la Gaîté-Lyrique | |
Facade of the former Théâtre de la Gaîté on the rue Papin, now part of La Gaîté Lyrique
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| Address | 3–5 rue Papin, 3rd arrondissement Paris |
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| Operator | Marc Dondey (General/Artistic Director) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2010 |
| Architect | Manuelle Gautrand (refurbishment) |
La Gaîté Lyrique is a digital arts and modern music centre opened by the City of Paris in December 2010, located at 3-5 rue Papin in the 3rd arrondissement.
The centre is on the site of the former Théâtre de la Gaîté, incorporating the facade, entrance and foyer of the original theatre. The auditorium of the theatre was demolished in 1989 for an amusement park.
The refurbishment lasted from 2004 to 2011 under the architect Manuelle Gautrand. The General/Artistic Director was Jérôme Delormas. The venue is directed by Marc Dondey since 2016.
Following Haussmann's modernization of Paris and the destruction of the theatres on the boulevard du Temple, the last of a succession of playhouses called the Théâtre de la Gaîté was built in the rue Papin. It opened on 3 September 1862. The building was designed by the architects Jacques-Ignace Hittorff and Alphonse Cusin, with an 1800-seat auditorium decorated by Félix Jobbé-Duval.
Concentrating on operettas, it also became known as the Gaîté-Lyrique and was at its height during the Second French Empire. Jacques Offenbach was its director from 1873 to 1874,
After the Second World War, the theatre enjoyed success under its directors Henri Montjoye and his wife Germaine Roger. In 1974, the Carré Silvia-Monfort and the first circus school based themselves here for a time. The theatre became bankrupt and closed.
In the early 1980s the dome of the main auditorium was threatening to collapse, and it was reinforced with concrete. During the following years it was largely destroyed and transformed into an amusement park, Planète magique[], by Jean Chalopin. The main auditorium, holding 1800, and the orchestra pit large enough for 60 musicians were among the parts of the building that were lost. The amusement park was only open for a few weeks.
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