The Theatre > History

In 1925 Paul Abram became assistant director of the theatre to Gémier, and later took over from him, in February 1930, remaining in the position until 1940. Abram pursued the huge renovation programme begun by Gémier, raising the flies by four metres and replacing wooden beams and floorboards with metal. He took the Odéon theatre company touring in suburbs, provinces and even internationally, as far as Eastern Europe. During the Second World War the Odéon was run by a series of temporary directors: Jacques Copeau, Pierre Aldebert, René Rocher, and for a very short period, Armand Salacrou with Jean-Louis Barrault.

In August 1944 the theatre was closed ; the Germans had taken up positions in the main foyer and were shooting at members of the Resistance movement positioned in the rue de l'Odéon. After Paris was freed from Nazi occupation, Paul Abram took over again and remained in charge until 1946. In April of that year, box office takings broke all records at the 986th performance of the "Arlésienne".