The French Comedy

Founded on 8 August 1680 by a decree from Louis XIV, the Comédie-Française emerged as the amalgamation of two prominent Parisian acting troupes of its time: the Guénégaud Theatre troupe and the Hôtel de Bourgogne troupe. The Guénégaud troupe had itself come into existence after the passing of the esteemed playwright Molière in 1673 when the Théâtre du Marais and the Troupe de Molière merged. Seven years later, the ensemble received its official designation and a royal grant of 12,000 livres per year, solidifying its place as the Comédie-Française, an institution with an unbroken heritage tracing back to Molière's era.

On 25 August 1680, the Comédie-Française showcased its first performance at the Guénégaud, featuring a talented cast that included Molière's widow, Armande Béjart, along with Guérin d'Estriché, La Grange, Mlle Champmeslé, Baron, Hauteroche, and Raymond Poisson. Their repertoire consisted of the renowned theatrical works by Molière and Jean Racine, complemented by a few pieces from Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron, and Jean Rotrou.

Until the middle of the 18th century, the theater was closely associated with the royal court, and theater actors held the honorary title of "ordinary actors of the king." The French theater or Comédie-Française gained fame as the largest theater in France.

The French theater or Comédie-Française underwent changes during the French Revolution, as the political life of France stirred the theater troupe. The theater was renamed the "Theater of the Nation," and political irreconcilability in 1792 led to a split in the theater.

On September 3, 1793, the Theater of the Nation was closed by order of the Committee of Public Safety for staging the allegedly seditious play "Pamela," and its actors were imprisoned, but they were eventually released.

The two parts of the troupe were reunited only on May 31, 1799, and the theater was restored to its historical name, Comédie-Française. On October 3, 1812, Napoleon, who was in Moscow at the time, signed the "Moscow Decree," which established the Charter and structure of the theater. Subsequent decrees, adopted in 1850 and 1859, and later in 1901 and 1910, definitively affirmed the theater's privileged position.

Today, the Comédie-Française boasts an extensive repertoire of 3,000 works and operates from three theaters in Paris: Salle Richelieu, located adjacent to the Palais Royal; théâtre du Vieux-Colombier; and Studio-Théâtre.

Performances at the 'French Theater' are staged on three stages, which were annexed to the 'Comédie-Française' in different years: in the Richelieu Hall (behind the palace), the 'Old Dovecote' theater (21, Vieille du Colombier Street) and the Studio Theater (99, Rivoli Street).

Starting in October 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the renowned Comédie-Française, along with all other theaters in France. However, due to the theater's permanent troupe of actors, a temporary solution was found by transitioning to an online program. This digital initiative featured full-text readings of “In Search of Lost Time” and a special online event called “Théâtre à la table”, where the troupe members performed works from their repertoire after only one week of rehearsal.

Surprisingly, the response to this online venture exceeded expectations, with a significant number of attendees joining from various regions beyond Paris, including international audiences.

Since its founding in 1680, the Comédie Française's Hall of Muses has changed locations several times. Since 1799, the Comédie Française has been housed in the Richelieu Hall, located at 2 Rue de Richelieu, constructed according to the design of the renowned architect Victor Louis. Throughout the 1800s, the theater underwent expansions and modifications, and in 1900 it was completely rebuilt after a devastating fire.

The theatrical troupe comprises two distinct categories: “sociétaires” and “pensionnaires”. The “sociétaires” consist of permanent members who, after 20 years of dedicated service, receive a pension as a reward. On the other hand, the “pensionnaires” are paid actors who have the potential to be promoted to “sociétaires” based on their tenure with the organization.

Throughout history, numerous renowned actors and dramatists in France have been linked to the esteemed Comédie-Française, making it a prestigious and influential institution in the world of theater.