The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve)

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Théâtre de la Huchette

Until August 2, 2025

French surtitled in English
The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve)
Book now From 26€/person

Location

Théâtre de la Huchette
23 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris
Capacity 85 seats

Duration

1 hour

No intermission


Details

Classic French play

For all audiences

In French (Certain dates surtitled in English, see below)


Highlights: The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve)

The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve) is an autopsy of 1950s society through the ridiculous interactions of two couples. Join Mr. and Mrs. Smith for a quiet evening at home, yet an evening anything but ordinary. From a series of curious coincidences to a slew of incomprehensible contradictions, where will this evening turn when the Smiths receive a visit from their dear friends, the Martins?

See the show with English surtitles!

The Bald Soprano is surtitled in English every Wednesday and exceptionally on the dates noted below. You will also see this indicated in the calendar when you choose your performance date.

Exceptionally surtitled dates:
• Thursday, October 24th, 2024
• Thursday, January 2nd, 2025

 

If your group has 10 or more people, the theatre can also offer surtitling on other days. Please contact us at hello@theatreinparis.com to offer you this service.

Story: The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve)

When the clock strikes 5 o'clock, the detective-maid announces the arrival of the Martins, a young couple who may or may not know each other. Knocks continue at the door, but is someone there? Join the mysterious world of The Bald Soprano, full of riddles and paradox!

 

The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve) is a record-breaking play by Eugène Ionesco that paints an absurd picture of 1950s society. See the world's longest continually-performing show in the historic Parisian venue, Théâtre de la Huchette. Both troubling and hilarious, this commentary on everyday life has been leaving audiences thinking for over 60 years! What was once a rather avant-garde new play, has now become a theatrical institution all on its own.

 

France may have changed, but this historic show surely hasn't. Since The Bald Soprano began playing at the Théâtre de la Huchette, France has seen nine presidents and four oil crises, yet the show carries on with the same legendary decor, staging, and momentum. Join the over 2.5 million spectators who have seen this Ionesco play in the quaint little Théâtre de la Huchette.

Get te immersive theatre workshop package !

Theatre in Paris has teamed up with the Astoria company for an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience theatre in an immersive environment! A brilliant, original idea to add to your itinerary for your next trip to Paris.

 

  • What is a theatre workshop?
  • The concept behind these theatre workshops is simple: you are coached, in groups of six, to perform a theatre piece before seeing it later that night. You will understand the intricacies behind stage performance, costume designing, prop preparation, and the full spectrum of the theatrical experience in Paris on stage or behind, you are completely free to choose what you want to do, whether you feel comfortable being seen or not. Everyone has their own role to play!

 

  • What is included in the theatre workshop?
  • • The workshops are two hours long and will be conducted during the day just before the evening performance of the show you have planned to see.
  • • You don’t need to bring anything. Everything will be provided for you!
  • • After finishing your theatre workshop, you will be able to attend a live performance of the show that you have been preparing!

 

  • Practical Information
  • • Reservations must be of 10 people or more.
  • • Duration: 2 hours
  • • Price: The price depends on the group size. Please contact us for an estimate.

 

 

For theatre workshop requests or if you need more information, please contact us at the following address: hello@theatreinparis.com.

Reviews

Super
An absurd classic that's been on the bill for so long, and perfectly acted. An offbeat moment that will do you well.
Martin
Ionesco is an author to know!
A must-see play by Ionesco if you're a fan of absurdist humor. The actors are all very good, and at times we laughed out loud.
Bianca
Fresh
Adorable little theatre which has been playing Ionesco for 60 (!) years. But performance is as fresh as ever
Michael
Real Culture
These works of art feel like a real piece of Parisian culture that you can enjoy. La Cantarice Chauve is only about an hour long, but you walk away feeling like you've really seen something funny and authentic. Wonderful experience. Comfortable theater.
Pres
Excellent

 

More than a gem, this show is a jewel! The actors' performance, the intelligent staging and joyful interpretation of the text left me filled with happiness

dardaredu
Wonderful

 

The actors are all excellent, we laughed a bit but wholeheartedly at the absurdity of it all, bravo!

almer75

Théâtre de la Huchette

23 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris

History and Fun Facts about Théâtre de la Huchette

 

A creative rebirth

Ending four years of Nazi occupation in 1945; during which censorship, curfews, and alerts practically suffocated all theatrical creation; the liberation paved the way for a creative explosion. Small theatres such as the Vieux Colombier, the Noctambules, Theatre Babylone and more began opening all over Paris, particularly in the Latin Quarter. That's when a fated pair cross paths, Marcel Pinard, the aspiring actor working odd jobs, and Georges Vitaly, the exiled Russian playwright. Pinard convinces his girlfriend at the time to rent out the legendary location at 23 rue Huchette so the two can create a theatre together, Vitaly the brains and playwright in the endeavor, with Pinard providing the location and his acting talent. The pair proves successful, and through the early 1950s the stage welcomed some of France's upcoming actors, including Jacqueline Maillan, Claude Gensac, Monique Delaroche, Pierre Mondy, François Chaumette, Jacques Fabbri, Michel Roux, and more.

 

A world-record theatre

Eventually Vitaly wants to move his successful plays on to a bigger venue, and he heads to the Théâtre La Bruyère. Under the sole direction of Marcel Pinard, the Théâtre Huchette takes a new direction featuring contemporary theatre. Marcel permanently unites his two leading new shows, Cantatrice Chauve and La Leçon, to create a record-breaking combo. To this day, these two performances remain the longest-running shows continually playing in the same venue, a world record!

 

An iconic venue

In 1975, Marcel suffers a heart attack in the theatre's tiny ticket booth. Following his death, the troupe battles to save the venue from being shut down and transformed into a restaurant for tourists. They proved successful, and this quaint theatre in the very heart of historic Paris continues to be a place of creative celebration. The headlining shows have become an institution in their own right, and welcome a full house an entire half-century later. This one of the only venues in the world welcoming generation after generation of French and international audiences to see the unchanged pair of shows, which were rather avant-garde at the time of their arrival on stage, and are now beloved classics! A quaint playhouse born in the post-war wave of creativity, the Théâtre Huchette is Parisian must-see, an entirely unexpected find in the very heart of the Latin Quarter.

Such an iconic and historic location though is not without a rumoured past! Tales have been told that prior to the Vitaly-Marcel takeover, the location of the theatre was used by monks of the nearby Saint Séverin church to bury treasure, and a witch is also rumoured to have used the cellar as a meeting point to preach an emerging new religion!

 

Fast facts
Capacity: 85
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Air conditioning: No
Heating: Yes

exterior theatre huchette paris
interior theatre huchette paris
salle theatre huchette paris

FAQ

How do I get to Théâtre de la Huchette in the 5th arrondissement of Paris ?

The Théâtre de la Huchette is accessible by:
Metro: Line 4 (station Saint-Michel Notre-Dame), line 10 (station Cluny - La Sorbonne)
RER: Line B (station Saint-Michel Notre-Dame), line C (station Saint-Michel Notre-Dame)
Address: 23 rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris
In case of difficulty, our hotline can be reached during our business hours. Please see the footer of this page for our contact details.

What do I do when I get to the Théâtre de la Huchette?

We invite you to arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of The Bald Soprano (La Cantatrice chauve), and present your voucher at the front desk. The theatre staff members will guide you to your seats.

Where will I be seated and will I see the surtitles properly during The Bald Soprano?

In this intimate theatre, there is one general seating category available which ensures a comfortable view of the surtitles. At the Théâtre de la Huchette, seating is generally on a first-come, first-served basis, and Theatre in Paris guests are invited to arrive early to ensure they are able to select their desired seats for performance of The Bald Soprano.

How long does The Bald Soprano last?

The Bald Soprano lasts exactly one hour with no intermission.

Is The Bald Soprano for an international audience or French speakers?

Thanks to English surtitles, both! The Bald Soprano has been performed in French for over 60 years in Paris and on tour across Europe, enjoying endless success. The world-record show has become an international institution, a must-see while in Paris for both French and international visitors. With the English surtitles, forget about the language barrier and enjoy an amazing French night out.

 

This show is surtitled in English every Wednesday but if you’re looking to see this show with English surtitles on a day when there are no surtitles planned, it is also possible to add surtitles on a date of your preference if you have a group of more than 10 people!
Group requests must be made through contacting us at: hello@theatreinparis.com

How far in advanced should I book my tickets for The Bald Soprano?

Millions of audience members have already seen The Bald Soprano, and it is always in high demand. We recommend booking tickets in advance rather than waiting as dates tend to fill up very quickly in this small intimate theatre!