The Theatre > History

On April 9, 1782 Marie-Antoinette formally opened the "new temple built by royal munificence to the glory of the dramatic arts." Theories on the role of a theatre as a public building, developed by Quatremère de Quincy in 1760, were put into practice: "A building of this kind should not be considered a residence, but rather a public place which all citizens have the right to enjoy."

Two walkways, which also provided shelter underneath, linked the façade to the Corneille and Molière wings or "pavilions". Shops opened in the arcades with numbers allocated so that members of the audience could find the right coach and valet. The area around the theatre was designed for easy movement of traffic - a quite unprecedented consideration.

The successful and controversial première of the Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais heralded the eventful life the theatre was to have. On April 27, 1784, the aristocracy, led by Marie-Antoinette, launched the success of the play subtitled the "Folle Journée" or "crazy day", despite the negative opinion of the king who had clearly seen how subversive it was. Beaumarchais commented: "What's even crazier than my play is the success it has had." Indeed, for in the entire history of the Odéon, no other play has ever been more successful. The first Production of the Marriage of Figaro was directed by Dazincourt who was also a tutor to the queen.