Opened 1816 Function Theater | Phone +33 1 42 23 88 83 | |
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Address 53 Rue des Saules, 75018 Paris, France Similar Essaïon Théâtre, Théâtre Hébertot, Lamarck – Caulaincourt, Théâtre de la Gaîté‑Montparnasse, Théâtre de Poche‑Montparnasse | ||
The Théâtre des Funambules ('The Theatre of the Tightrope-Walkers') was a former theater located on the boulevard du Temple in Paris, sometimes called the Boulevard du Crime. It was located between the prominent Théâtre de la Gaîté, and the much smaller Théâtre des Délassements-Comiques.
Originally an informal venue for acrobatics and pantomime a theatre was eventually built in 1816. Originally seating 500, it was later enlarged to accommodate 773. The Funambules became celebrated for the performances of the 'Pierrot' mime Jean-Gaspard Deburau, between around 1819 and 1846, and also the early career of the great classical actor Frédérick Lemaître.
The theatre was demolished in 1862, along with other neighboring venues such as Théâtre de la Gaîté, during Haussmann's renovation of Paris.
Les Enfants du Paradis
Marcel Carné set his 1945 film Les Enfants du Paradis in the Théâtre des Funambules to evoke the atmosphere of the July Monarchy (1830–48), including the figures of Deburau and Lemaître among the main roles.