The Théâtre de l'Athénée Louis-Jouvet in the 9th arrondissement, nestled in a small square behind the Opéra Garnier, is one of the most charming Parisian houses and classified as a National Theatre of France. Opened in 1893, the house attained its defining identity under the direction of actor-director Louis Jouvet from 1934 until his death in 1951. Jouvet directed here the French premieres of Jean Giraudoux — La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu (1935), Ondine (1939), La Folle de Chaillot (1945) — and established the Athénée as a centre of cultivated author-theatre of literary ambition. The house with 570 seats is valued for its acoustic warmth and architecturally rich interior. After the Second World War the house preserved its tradition under various directorships and officially received the addition Louis-Jouvet to its name in 1990. Current programming under the long-standing directorship of Patrice Martinet combines classical French repertoire with contemporary authors.
Louis Jouvet directed the house for 17 years until his death in 1951 — he died one evening after a rehearsal on the stage, in his dressing room upstairs in the same building.
At a glance
- Type
- Theatre
- Location
- Paris, France
- Address
- 7 Rue Boudreau, 75009
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