Bérénice

History and Fun Facts about La Scala

Wedged between hair salons and trendy vintage stores in Paris’ 10th Arrondissement, La Scala is a newly renovated “café-concert hall” hosting a wide variety of entertainment, including theatre, dance, concerts, and circus performances. Once the first major English-style music halls in France, now remade with state-of-the-art modular technology, the venue has undergone multiple makeovers since it first opened its doors in 1873. It made its humble debut as a Parisian guinguette, an intimate meeting place for drinking and dancing, but later evolved into a concert hall, theatre venue, and finally an art deco cinema. Perhaps the strangest chapter of La Scala’s history came in 1999, when it was purchased by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, who envisioned the venue as a meeting place for a religious cult. However, its neighbours protested, and Paris’ city council refused to give the church permission for its plans. La Scala was closed, lying derelict for 16 years.  

However, this changed in 2016 when the space was purchased by a pair of seasoned theatre producers. They transformed the space into a 550-seat modular theatre with technology to support the full range of performances they imagined for the space. Both its auditorium and restaurant feature designs from scenographer Richard Peduzzi, the man behind the Milan Scala, an opera house which has hosted nearly every great Italian opera singer since 1778. Inspired by this long heritage, Paris’ own imitation is now a gem of the city’s theatre scene with an impressively diverse programme of shows.

Fast facts
Capacity: 550
Handicap Accessible: Yes, though please contact us beforehand to ensure you get the best place.
Air conditioning: Yes
Heating: Yes
Coat Check: Yes (free service)