When the stalls were modified, with an orchestra pit and seating, its public were relegated to the ‘chicken coop’, which is usually referred to nowadays as ‘paradis’ – ‘the gods’ in English-speaking theater. The boxes were reserved for aristocrats, the balconies were peopled by the finest elements of the bourgeoisie, and the stalls, which were standing-only at the time, were destined for those of lesser social stature. The superposition of its balconies, which are in the form of a horseshoe, responds perfectly to this demand and they are part of an extremely codified area within which the public used to be disposed according to highly elaborate and strict rules of social stratification. Everything has been carefully designed in order to be able to ‘hear, see and be seen’. In the jewel of architecture that is the Célestins Theater the main auditorium, which has been renovated several times since 1881, is a classical example of the auditorium ‘à l’italienne’. Please also note that not all areas are accessible to wheelchair users. This installment covers topics such as the global African presence, the science of melanin, the truth about the prison industrial complex, how thriving black economic communities were undermined in America, and the hidden truth about Native Americans. and that projector didnt reproduce colors in the same manner as the new.
Reservation necessary, ticket prices are €8 (full tariff), €5 (for under-25s), and there is no charge for children under 10 years of age.įor those with reduced mobility, because the visit includes areas of the theater that are usually closed to the public it would be preferable for them to be accompanied. For theater owners, digital will make movies easier and cheaper to handle. Programmed ninety-minute visits one Saturday a month at 10:30am. From the main auditorium and its rich red and gold décor to the smaller Céléstine auditorium, and without forgetting the public foyer and the artists’ facilities, the tour retraces the history of the building, which was renovated in 2005 and reveals its hidden side as well as the activity of this grand institution of the Lyon metropolitan area. Led by passionate guides, the visit offers a captivating voyage within one of the most beautiful of all European Italian-style theaters. Of particular interest are the richly decorated public foyer, the atrium and its harmonious volumes of space as well as the red and gold auditorium, all of which make this theater ‘à l’italienne’ an exceptional building.Īfter 2 years of extensive renovation it became a unique lieu in spring 2005, associating tradition and high levels of technical prowess in its two auditoriums. With a rich 200-year history behind it, the Célestins Theater has retained all the majesty of its original architecture, which dates back to 1881. Classified in the supplementary inventory of Historical Buildings, the theater opens outside of show time in order to welcome those who wish to discover features such as the main auditorium and behind-the-scene areas.