In the heart of the 8th district, the Theatre de la Concorde, inaugurated on September 17th, is not just any theater. More than just a stage, this Parisian institution stands out with a unique approach that puts art in service of today's and tomorrow's big democratic challenges. A true democratic forum, where art and citizenship meet to address contemporary issues, the Theatre de la Concorde offers a thematic, accessible, and participatory programming, aiming to awaken consciousness through creation and debate.
A Citizen Theatre in the Heart of Paris
Located in the Champs-Élysées neighborhood, the Theatre de la Concorde is part of a pioneering initiative: embodying a great popular university of democracy aimed at fighting against obscurantism. Under the impetus of the City of...
Paris is connected to the Directorate of Democracy, Citizens, and Territories. This citizen lab, led by Elsa Boublil, brings together artists, thinkers, and citizens around current themes such as climate, the rise of populism, and the crisis of disinformation..jpg)
Elsa Boublil, director of the theater. © Théâtre de la Concorde
Her activities include free workshops for young audiences during the week, and open to everyone on weekends, as well as open mic nights accessible to all. The goal is to actively involve us in the theater events as participants, not just spectators. In the evenings, paid performances are offered at accessible prices: €10 to €25 at full price, reduced rates of €8 for youth and groups, and free admission is offered to those under 18, job seekers, and people with disabilities.
A bold and interactive program
Designed like a musical score, the programming of the Théâtre de la Concorde is...cute; evolves month by month to align with the events shaping the news. In October, for example, the theater explored free speech and truthful dialogue in democracy with shows, readings, and discussions about freedom of expression, sincerity in public discourse, and the challenges related to press freedom. In November, the theme of the shift in democracy is likely to resonate, especially with the upcoming American elections, featuring events led by political scientist Hugo Micheron, who has envisioned a cycle titled "AI, democracies, and the informational environment." Finally, December will address the issues of exile and diasporas, offering a vital reflection on identity and displacement.It seems like the text you want translated wasn't included in your message. Please provide the text you'd like me to translate, and I'll be happy to help!
Singer Sandra Nkaké and her musicians at the inaugural press conference for the Théâtre de la Concorde on September 17, 2024 © JB Gurliat for the City of Paris.
Among the highlight performances this end of the year, Une saison de machettes by Dominique Lurcel (from November 5 to 9, 2024) addresses the Rwandan genocide to question the "banality of evil", while in a different vein, Coupures by Samuel Valensi and Paul-Eloi Forget (from November 14 to 19, 2024) re.brings the audience face-to-face with their responsibilities through a powerful and committed satire on our political decision-making system. Then, to celebrate the launch day of the Children's Citizens' Assembly of Paris, the theater will host the play In Anticipation of the End of the World and the Creation of a New by Pauline Sales (on November 16 and 17, 2024), which addresses issues like climate change, inequality, discrimination, feminism, and globalization from the perspective of the younger generations. Finally, We Didn’t Take the Time to Say Goodbye by Rachid Bouali (from December 10 to 21) and There is no Ajarby Johanna Nizard and Arnaud Aldigé (from December 11 to 28) both offer a poignant introspective exploration of identity and belonging through a powerful solo performance.
A place for living, sharing, and learning
Beyond performances, the theater hosts a series of free participatory workshops to raise awareness about social and human rights: dance, public speaking, writing, and podcast creation… all of which help to introduce young people to the principles of active democracy. Among the notable projects, the association Fake Off invites middle and high school students to analyze information flow.
Information to sharpen their critical thinking skills and spot fake news. On their part, the Kourtrajmé company offers a krump workshop once a month, a dance that originated in Los Angeles, which allows individuals to channel and express their emotions in an artistic and civic way.
© Joséphine Brueder
Exciting events will also light up the season, such as the American Night on November 5th, where the theater, in collaboration with the Jean Jaurès Foundation and 1 Hebdo, will offer a live experience in its venue and on Backseat, the Twitch channel of Jean Massiet with over 250,000 subscribers, covering this historic election. And don’t miss the weekend "Vote and Make Yourself Heard in 2024", organized with political scientist Loïc Blondiaux, featuring Claire Nouvian, founder of the Bloom association.
Theatre de la Concorde
Gardens of the Champs-Élysées
1, Avenue Gabriel – 8th
Full price: between 10 and 25€ depending on the shows; 5€ for cinema screenings
Reduced price: 8€ for under-26s, students, and groups of over 10 people
Free for under-18s, job seekers, holders of social minimums, people with disabilities, and their companions
More info and ticketing