A Parisian jewel box whispers secrets. This is the Théâtre Hébertot. Its history unfolds before you a tapestry woven with ambition and near-ruin.
This elegant theatre at 78 bis boulevard des Batignolles boasts a rich past. It wasn’t always the Théâtre Hébertot. It began life as the Théâtre des Batignolles in 1838. This followed a request from the new municipality of Batignolles-Monceaux for a theatre. This was a tricky proposition though. A royal privilege granted in 1817 gave the Seveste family exclusive rights to theatres outside Paris’s city walls. Despite this Besançon Souchet built a theatre anyway. He was fined but eventually gained permission to build.
The original theatre struggled. It changed hands several times. It even faced bankruptcy in 1889. Near collapse! Maurice Landay revived it in 1906. He renamed it the Théâtre des Arts. This name too was fleeting.
The theatre finally acquired its current name in 1940. This is thanks to the playwright and journalist Jacques Hébertot. He led the theatre until his death. His nephew François Daviel briefly took over. Unfortunately he died prematurely. His heir Andrée Delattre inherited the theatre.
Further challenges arose in the 1970s. Simone Valère and Jean Desailly tried to take over. Andrée Delattre refused to renew their lease. Patrick Barroux took over instead making significant renovations. The theatre reopened in 1976 as the Théâtre des Arts-Hébertot.
Jean-Laurent Cochet then took the helm in 1978. He aimed for a high-quality repertoire. His ambitious programming including 21 different plays resulted in the theatre earning the nickname “Comédie-Française bis”. His funding however was limited. His run ended after three seasons.
Since 1990 Danièle and Pierre Franck have been in charge. They added a second smaller venue Le Petit-Hébertot. The Théâtre Hébertot stands as a testament to perseverance. A symbol of Parisian theatrical excellence. It has also been listed as a historical monument since 1974. Its façade even appeared in Roman Polanski’s film “Venus in Fur”. The stage has seen legendary performers such as Sacha Guitry Edwige Feuillère Georges Pitoëff and Ludmilla Pitoëff. The Théâtre Hébertot continues to thrive a vibrant hub for Parisian theatre.