Ancienne comédie d'Avignon
The Old Comedy of Avignon is an Italian-style theatre in Avignon located at 9, Place Crillon and inaugurated in 1732.
The building served as a theater until 1825, when a new, larger venue was inaugurated on Place de l'Horloge in Avignon. It was the first venue in the city of the popes to be built specifically for the purpose of staging plays. It was in operation from 1734 until 1824. Built according to the plans of Thomas Lainée, its director was Fabre d'Églantine from 1785 to 1787.
It is located on the current Place Crillon, which before its construction was called Place de l'Oulle. It was then called Place de la Comédie2. Located not far from the banks of the Rhône, Place Crillon is accessible via the Porte de l'Oulle.
Until the creation of this theater, the city of Avignon did not have a performance hall. The troupes performed their plays in particular in the tennis courts. Following the collapse of the building owned by the painter Nicolas Mignard, a joint-stock company was created to provide the city with a theater. The plans were drawn up by Thomas Lainée. Only the facade remains of this original hall, classified as a historical monument by decree of November 5, 19313.
The "jeu de paume" theater, located on Rue de la Bouquerie, having collapsed in 1732, the greatest families of Avignon joined together in a joint-stock company to build a real theater. Among them were the Puget-Barbentane, the Suarès d'Aulan, the Brantes, the Marquis de Costebelle and the Duke of Crillon. It was even open to foreign nobles including the Duke of Ormond and Lord Inverness. Their company acquired a jeu de paume located on the Place de l'Oulle in order to build the theater in its place.
Responsibility for the construction site was entrusted to the Parisian architect Thomas Lainée, who noted on June 23, 1734, that the work was finished and in accordance with his plans. His contemporaries noted that it was sumptuous and that luxurious boxes had been provided for the vice-legate, the Auditor General, the University Priest, the Reverend Father Inquisitor, the viguier, and the consuls. The Duke of Ormond then wrote to one of his correspondents: "To make the city more pleasant, I have contributed to the building of a performance hall which is certainly the prettiest in France. It excites the field troops to come there, and we have Comédie for more than six months of the year."
French and Italian comedy were performed there. The theatre remained in operation until 1824, when it was decided to build a new hall on Place de l'Horloge: the Avignon Opera House.
The theater is private property.
It is located on the current Place Crillon, which before its construction was called Place de l'Oulle. It was then called Place de la Comédie2. Located not far from the banks of the Rhône, Place Crillon is accessible via the Porte de l'Oulle.
Until the creation of this theater, the city of Avignon did not have a performance hall. The troupes performed their plays in particular in the tennis courts. Following the collapse of the building owned by the painter Nicolas Mignard, a joint-stock company was created to provide the city with a theater. The plans were drawn up by Thomas Lainée. Only the facade remains of this original hall, classified as a historical monument by decree of November 5, 19313.
The "jeu de paume" theater, located on Rue de la Bouquerie, having collapsed in 1732, the greatest families of Avignon joined together in a joint-stock company to build a real theater. Among them were the Puget-Barbentane, the Suarès d'Aulan, the Brantes, the Marquis de Costebelle and the Duke of Crillon. It was even open to foreign nobles including the Duke of Ormond and Lord Inverness. Their company acquired a jeu de paume located on the Place de l'Oulle in order to build the theater in its place.
Responsibility for the construction site was entrusted to the Parisian architect Thomas Lainée, who noted on June 23, 1734, that the work was finished and in accordance with his plans. His contemporaries noted that it was sumptuous and that luxurious boxes had been provided for the vice-legate, the Auditor General, the University Priest, the Reverend Father Inquisitor, the viguier, and the consuls. The Duke of Ormond then wrote to one of his correspondents: "To make the city more pleasant, I have contributed to the building of a performance hall which is certainly the prettiest in France. It excites the field troops to come there, and we have Comédie for more than six months of the year."
French and Italian comedy were performed there. The theatre remained in operation until 1824, when it was decided to build a new hall on Place de l'Horloge: the Avignon Opera House.
The theater is private property.
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