Théâtre National Populaire
Encyclopedia
The Théâtre National Populaire (People's National Theater) is a theatre
now at Villeurbanne
, France
. It was founded in 1920 by Firmin Gémier in Paris. The theater's policy is to deliver quality entertainment accessible to the general public.
The TNP is one of the first theaters in France with a clear development strategy. The public is invited to attend meetings and the theatre implements a communication policy based on working with associations and committees. Even though it is criticized for not attracting blue collar workers, the TNP is a model for many other theaters in the French provinces.
Today, the TNP has a company of ten resident actors and the building is currently being completely renovated.
.
In 1951 Jean Vilar
was appointed head of the new theater by Jeanne Laurent. The theatre reopened at Suresnes
pending the return to the Palais de Chaillot. Vilar thought of the theatre as a public service, and gave it a new image. Under his leadership the theatre offered quality performances shown at prices and times to suit the general public. The TNP attracted a group of brilliant young actors, including Gérard Philipe
. Productions from this time include Le Cid
and Der Prinz von Homburg
by Heinrich von Kleist
. Vilar hired the young composer Maurice Jarre
as music director. Jarre scored 36 plays including the famous Lorenzaccio
.
In 1963, Georges Wilson
succeeded Vilar and created a second room devoted to contemporary writers.
In 1972 the French Minister of Cultural Affairs (Jacques Duhamel) decided to move the TNP to Villeurbanne
, near Lyon. Specifically, to the Théâtre de la Cité, founded by Roger Planchon in 1957. Patrice Chéreau
, Robert Gilbert and Roger Planchon took over leadship of the organisation.
In 1986, Georges Lavaudant replaced Patrice Chéreau and shared the leadership with Roger Planchon until 1996. Then in 2002, the current director, Christian Schiaretti left the Comedy of Reims to lead the TNP.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
now at Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris. Villeurbanne is the second-largest city in the department.-History:The current location of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was founded in 1920 by Firmin Gémier in Paris. The theater's policy is to deliver quality entertainment accessible to the general public.
The TNP is one of the first theaters in France with a clear development strategy. The public is invited to attend meetings and the theatre implements a communication policy based on working with associations and committees. Even though it is criticized for not attracting blue collar workers, the TNP is a model for many other theaters in the French provinces.
Today, the TNP has a company of ten resident actors and the building is currently being completely renovated.
History
The Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) was founded in 1920 in Paris at the Palais de Chaillot by Firmin Gémier. During the Second World War activity was suspended and the building was occupied by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
In 1951 Jean Vilar
Jean Vilar
Jean Vilar was a French man of the theatre, who created in 1947 the Avignon theatre festival.After he gave up his literature studies, in 1932 he followed in Paris a course of philosophy of Alain and the theatre courses of Charles Dullin...
was appointed head of the new theater by Jeanne Laurent. The theatre reopened at Suresnes
Suresnes
Suresnes is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. The nearest communes are Neuilly-sur-Seine, Puteaux, Rueil-Malmaison, Saint-Cloud and Boulogne-Billancourt...
pending the return to the Palais de Chaillot. Vilar thought of the theatre as a public service, and gave it a new image. Under his leadership the theatre offered quality performances shown at prices and times to suit the general public. The TNP attracted a group of brilliant young actors, including Gérard Philipe
Gérard Philipe
Gérard Philipe was a prominent French actor, who had appeared in 34 films between 1944 and 1959.-Career:...
. Productions from this time include Le Cid
Le Cid
Le Cid is a tragicomedy written by Pierre Corneille and published in 1636. It is based on the legend of El Cid.The play followed Corneille's first true tragedy, Médée, produced in 1635. An enormous popular success, Corneille's Le Cid was the subject of a heated polemic over the norms of dramatic...
and Der Prinz von Homburg
The Prince of Homburg (play)
The Prince of Homburg is a play by Heinrich von Kleist written in 1809-10, but not performed until 1821, after the author's death. A performance during his lifetime was not possible because Princess Marianne of Prussia , by birth a member of the Hesse-Homburg family, to whom Kleist had given sight...
by Heinrich von Kleist
Heinrich von Kleist
Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist was a poet, dramatist, novelist and short story writer. The Kleist Prize, a prestigious prize for German literature, is named after him.- Life :...
. Vilar hired the young composer Maurice Jarre
Maurice Jarre
Maurice-Alexis Jarre was a French composer and conductor.Although he composed several concert works, he is best known for his film scores, and is particularly known for his collaborations with film director David Lean. Jarre composed the scores to all of Lean's films since Lawrence of Arabia...
as music director. Jarre scored 36 plays including the famous Lorenzaccio
Lorenzaccio
Lorenzaccio is a French play of the Romantic period written by Alfred de Musset in 1834, set in 16th-century Florence, and depicting Lorenzino de' Medici, who killed Florence's tyrant, Alessandro de' Medici, his cousin. Having engaged in debaucheries to gain the Duke's confidence, he loses the...
.
In 1963, Georges Wilson
Georges Wilson
Georges Wilson was a French film and television actor. He is the father of French actor Lambert Wilson.Wilson was born in Champigny-sur-Marne, Seine , to a French father and an Irish mother...
succeeded Vilar and created a second room devoted to contemporary writers.
In 1972 the French Minister of Cultural Affairs (Jacques Duhamel) decided to move the TNP to Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris. Villeurbanne is the second-largest city in the department.-History:The current location of...
, near Lyon. Specifically, to the Théâtre de la Cité, founded by Roger Planchon in 1957. Patrice Chéreau
Patrice Chéreau
Patrice Chéreau is a French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor, and producer.-Biography:Patrice Chéreau was born in Lézigné, Maine-et-Loire, and went to school in Paris. At a young age he became well-known to Parisian critics as director, actor, and stage manager of his high-school theatre...
, Robert Gilbert and Roger Planchon took over leadship of the organisation.
In 1986, Georges Lavaudant replaced Patrice Chéreau and shared the leadership with Roger Planchon until 1996. Then in 2002, the current director, Christian Schiaretti left the Comedy of Reims to lead the TNP.
External links
- Théâtre National Populaire official website (French only)