The Top Secret Theatres You Must See in Paris

Blog last updated on the 25 July 2025

Paris’ Top Secret Theatres

One of Paris’ best kept secrets is its historical playhouses, originating from the time of kings or established during Paris' roaring 20s boom. Explore some of the city’s best secret theatres.

Most travellers just barely scratch the surface when looking for things to see in Paris, France. So we're here to tell you: don't be the average tourist! It's back-to-school season, and we are hurriedly preparing our new shows and (shhh!) expanding our offer! In September, travellers from all over the world flock to the city of lights ready to discover the famous sights in Paris like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Opera, the Arc of Triomphe... But what travellers often fail to discover is the true Parisian nightlife, and the locals' absolute love for theatre! With Theatre in Paris, you'll discover that the true core of the city's local, vibrant culture lies in its theatres and their mesmerizing productions, made accessible to travellers with our state-of-the-art English surtitles.

1. Théâtre le Ranelagh

Time machine or theatre? How about both?! Théâtre le Ranelagh often showcases classical plays such as Molière’s The Miser and Cyrano de Bergerac.
Located outside the city limits at the time, a theatre was built in Château de Boulainvilliers belonging to Alexandre Le Riche de La Pouplinière, a great French patron of the arts. Intellectuals and artists such as Voltaire and Rameau visited the theatre After the Revolution left the property partially devastated, a famous automobile manufacturer and music enthusiast, Louis Mors, acquired the land and had the original theatre reconstructed on the site of the original La Poupliniere Music Hall in 1894. The rich and warm carved oak panels that adorn the venue in a Neo-Renaissance style gave the room exceptional acoustics. It's a veritable window to the past, and today runs the most famous classics, in a fun, dynamic way that will make you want to sing and dance, well after the show has ended!

2. La Comédie Française - Salle Richelieu

One of the oldest, still-active theatres in the world, the Comédie-Française was founded in 1680. Complete with crimson velvet, gold fringe and tassels, cast iron and Doric Columns, the oval-shaped auditorium was often overflowing with French nobility during its glory days. After a violent political discussion broke out between the performers during the French Revolution, Salle Richelieu was opened in 1799 and became the primary venue of Comédie-Française. The works of Molière and Jean Racine filled the repertoire of the theatre during its first years; today, it consists of over 3,000 works.

Smart surtitling glasses are now available at the Comédie-Française, in Salle Richelieu! These smart surtitling glasses (Augmented reality glasses) are used as a language barrier solution developed by our sister company, Panthea, allowing English-speaking audiences, deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences to follow along plays in different languages. Surtitles in English or in LSF (French Sign Language) are available with this partnership.
Here are some of the plays that will play next season (2025-2026): Chekhov's The Seagull adapted by Elsa Granat: Une Mouette, The Misanthrope by Molière.

3. Palais Garnier

Step into one of the most famous opera houses in the world and you're stepping into the setting of the novel The Phantom of the Paris Opera. Rich with gold and velvet, mirrors, lavish statuary, chandeliers, and white marble with hints of red and green; there’s no denying the elegance of Palais Garnier. After a design competition held in 1860, this was one of the most expensive buildings of its time and it quickly became a symbol of the city like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. The traditional Italian horseshoe shape of the auditorium is donned with the largest stage in all of Europe, a removable ceiling painting done by Marc Chagall in 1964 and completed with a 7-tonne brass and crystal chandelier that lights the massive room. The entire opera house is undoubtedly elaborate and breathtaking, from the Grand Staircase to the Grand Foyer and to the tiniest details of the decor.

4. Théâtre du Châtelet

Built on the site that once was the location of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, Parisian architect Baron Haussmann requested the construction of the magnificent Théâtre du Châtelet in 1860. It was here that Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days was adapted for the stage and ran for 64 years, exactly 2,195 performances, until the Nazi occupation of Paris in May 1940 closed the production permanently. Since opening, it has been used for just about every form of entertainment, from operettas, variety and ballet performances, to classical and popular music concerts and cinema, but is currently home to the Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.

5. Théâtre Edouard VII

Fancy frequenting the same places as a King? Or meeting the ghost of Orson Welles? Look no further than Théâtre Edouard VII.
Known as the most French of all British Kings, English King Edouard VII was a great supporter of the arts. In the early 1900s, this theatre was built in his honour as a centre for Anglo-Saxon culture in Paris, a city the King deeply loved. Run by legendary director Sacha Guitry, Théâtre Edouard VII has seen numerous well known figures such as Orson Welles (rumoured among Parisians to be haunting the halls of the venue) and Jean Cocteau, famous director and friend of Picasso!
A venue meant to celebrate the Anglo-French relationship, the theatre continues to have a lively stage with the best "Boulevard Comedies" in the city, oozing with risqué French humour!

6. Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse

In a vibrant area flocked by artists, theatre-buffs and hipsters, famous for its nightlife and art, is a theatre that has seen the famous celebrities of the past, and is known today for its sensational productions.
Salvaging materials from the demolition of Théâtre de l’Exposition in 1867, Francois Jamin constructed a “cafe-concert” in the very popular and vibrant Montparnasse area. As a popular place to drink, dance, attend a Parisian cabaret or a show, these evenings were known to be loud and rowdy, unlike the typical theatre experience today. A few years passed and a more authentic and modern theatre was installed to host sketches, singing acts, parodies and poem recitals of texts. After being a place for troupes and singers to take the stage to entertain soldiers and citizens alike during World War II, the theatre was threatened with demolition. Being saved by a few people in the industry who saw it as a valuable piece of history and art, it remains lively in the prominent Montparnasse neighbourhood.

A Gift They’ll Never Forget!

Everyone has that loved one who is impossible to buy presents for, so why not give them a day to remember instead? With our gift card, they can choose to see one of our amazing shows, concerts, cabarets and more! And you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ve given them the best present of all — an extra-special memory to last a lifetime.

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