The municipal theater of Roanne is a Roanne gem in the heart of the city! An emblematic cultural site of Roanne tourism, it is still a living place of culture today. Each season, it hosts different shows in its beautiful Italian-style room and allows for cultural openness for all!

Uprogramming for all audiences

Each year, the theater publishes a program for the season with no less than 45 shows. By flipping through each page, you will discover the multiplicity of the proposed programming! All the aesthetics are presented: plays of course but also dance, circus, puppets or even music. Shows for all ages and all tastes! You will go from a Molière play to a children's circus company with ease.

The Roanne theater allows everyone to experience and share emotions. The shows are sometimes surprising, unexpected and appeal to our different sensibilities and opinions.

The theater is also a place of cultural life in Roanne with regular events: exhibitions, conferences, concerts, "coffee breaks" with the artists after the show or even a festival.

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Visiting the Roanne theater is possible!

The municipal theater can be visited. Throughout the season, the staff, depending on their availability, offers a guide to discovering this Italian theater. You will discover behind the scenes, places closed to the public during these free guided tours! Do not hesitate to register also during the European Heritage Days in the month of September !

Finally, this pretty Italian-style theater in Roanne is like a candy box where it is good to come and share unique artistic moments!

DID YOU KNOW ?

During the restructuring of the theater in 1986, the wooden machinery, located above the stage, was retained. This machinery dating from 1885 allows the handling and hanging of the main decorative elements. It still works! The Roanne theater is therefore an exception in the theaters of its time in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.

Key dates

  • 1773, before the construction of the municipal theater, the city of Roanne rented the old theater of Artois. In wood, it was bought by a patron of Roanne, Charles Marie Gambon, who had it reinstalled in rue Jean Jaurès until 1876.
  • 1883, following a public inquiry, the Roannais ask to benefit from a real theater. The municipality and the mayor Alexandre Raffin retain the project of the architect Barberot.
  • 1885, the new theater opens its doors with a performance of Rossini's Barber of Seville.
  • 1986, the city decides to completely renovate the building by restoring it to its former beauty by providing it with modern technical means. Architects from the Loire are chosen for this renovation: M. Bourreau and M. Vernet.
  • The date of 1988 marks the inauguration of the up-to-date “new” theater.

A remarkable Italian room

The interior decor of this Italian-style theater is superb. As soon as you enter, you will be amazed by the decoration of the room and particularly by its dome. It is adorned with marouflaged painted canvas representing allegorical figures. Among the characters, a large figure holds up a torch, symbol of the town of Roanne and its motto: “Crescam et Lucebo” (I will grow and I will shine).

The room is also a well-defined plan embellished with worked woodwork and gilding. Cherubs, sculptures and frescoes were meticulously restored by a team from the Beaux-Arts de Valence during the renovation.

The hall has 491 seats! These red armchairs blend with the gilding of the theater and contribute to this elegant atmosphere.

Finally, to highlight exhibitions, the vestibule and the foyer have been reorganized.

Théâtre municipal de Roanne
Municipal Theater of Roanne © Gil Lebois / ADRT42

TOURIST INFORMATION

Municipal Theater
1 rue Moliere
42300 Roanne

04 77 71 44

04 77 71 05

Website

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