Scapin the Schemer by Molière

La Comédie-Française: Season 2025-2026
Scapin the Schemer by Molière - La Comédie-Française - Theatre in Paris
La Comédie-Française

From 11/09 to 14/01/2026

French surtitled in English

Location

La Comédie-Française
1 place Colette, 75001 Paris
Capacity 879 seats

Duration

2 hours

No intermission


Details

Classic theatre

For all audiences

In French surtitled in English, French and French Sign Language


Highlights: Scapin the Schemer

From 20 September 2025 to 15 January 2026, Scapin the Schemer (Les Fourberies de Scapin) returns to the stage of the Comédie-Française in a lively and inventive production directed by Denis Podalydès. This gem of the French repertoire, first performed in 1671, showcases Molière’s mastery of farce and sharp social commentary.

 

Written in the final years of Molière’s life, the play marks a spirited return to commedia dell’arte, with its classic mix of disguises, misunderstandings and the famous comic beatings. At the heart of the story is Scapin, a wily and ingenious servant who concocts a series of tricks to help two young lovers outwit their domineering fathers. Themes of love, generational conflict, deception, and freedom resonate with timeless relevance.

 

What makes this production particularly exciting is its blend of tradition and modernity. The set is designed by Éric Ruf, the sumptuous costumes are created by Christian Lacroix, and the cast is composed of some of the Comédie-Française’s finest talents: Thierry Hancisse, Bakary Sangaré, Nicolas Lormeau, Gilles David, Elissa Alloula, Marie Oppert and Adrien Simion.

 

With its dazzling language, energetic rhythm and theatrical brilliance, Scapin the Schemer promises an evening of laughter, cleverness and joy. This is popular theatre in the noblest sense — accessible, intelligent and deeply entertaining. Don’t miss this unmissable rendezvous with one of Molière’s most delightful creations!

 

This show is surtitled in English with smart glasses!

Thanks to the “panthea.live” system provided by our sister company Panthea, smart glasses for surtitling are available for Scapin the Schemer! While the performance is in French, it is entirely accessible to non-French speakers and hearing-impaired audience members as the smart glasses allow viewers to experience the show with surtitles in English, French, and French Sign Language (LSF). This highly innovative technology is available exclusively by Panthea and Theatre in Paris.

Story: Scapin the Schemer

Set in Naples, two young men, Octave and Léandre, find themselves in a tricky situation. In their fathers’ absence, they have each fallen in love against their families’ expectations: Octave has secretly married Hyacinthe, a poor girl of unknown origin, while Léandre is in love with Zerbinette, a young Egyptian slave.

 

But when their fathers, Argante and Géronte, return unexpectedly with prearranged marriage plans, the young men panic. Desperate, they turn to Scapin, Léandre’s clever and cunning servant, to help them out of the mess.

What follows is a whirlwind of tricks, lies, and theatrical deceit. Scapin sets about manipulating the two old men, cleverly extracting money from them and staging absurd situations to protect the young lovers. Classic scenes unfold, including the famous bag-beating episode, showcasing Molière’s flair for physical and verbal comedy.

 

In true comedy fashion, everything resolves happily: it is revealed that Hyacinthe is actually Argante’s long-lost daughter, and Zerbinette is of noble birth, making the unions socially acceptable. Though Scapin’s schemes are exposed, he ultimately receives forgiveness and even admiration for his ingenuity.

 

The plot, while simple on the surface, serves as a brilliant framework for fast-paced humour, social satire, and the triumph of wit over authority. At its heart stands Scapin — a servant who pulls all the strings with unmatched theatrical flair.

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La Comédie-Française

1 place Colette, 75001 Paris

History and Fun Facts about la Comédie-Française
 

Founded in 1680 by Louis XIV, the Comédie-Française is the oldest active theatre company in the world. This French cultural institution, often referred to as “the House of Molière”, is a true French treasure.

 

The Comédie-Française is renowned for its classical repertoire, consisting mainly of plays by Molière, Racine, Corneille and Marivaux. These works, which form part of France's literary heritage, are regularly performed on the stages of the Salle Richelieu and the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier (the Comédie-Française's other stage).

 

However, the Comédie-Française does not limit itself to the classical repertoire. It also presents contemporary works and adaptations of foreign texts. This dynamic approach underscores its dedication to innovation and its ambition to captivate an ever-growing, diverse audience.

 

The Comédie-Française troupe is made up of some of the most talented actors on the French stage. Trained at prestigious institutions like the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique, these actors bring their characters to life with remarkable precision and profound emotion. It could even be said that they don’t merely perform their roles: they become the characters.
They are particularly renowned for their impeccable diction and their mastery of all theatrical techniques.

 

The Comédie-Française occupies the Salle Richelieu, located in the heart of the Palais-Royal in Paris. This Italian-style theatre, built in the 18th century, is one of the world's most prestigious theatres. Its salons, dressing rooms and stage have played host to the greatest actors and the finest plays in the French repertoire.
The Comédie-Française is globally acclaimed as a true ambassador of French culture. Its troupe frequently performs abroad and participates in international festivals, playing a vital role in promoting the French language and cultural heritage on the world stage.

 

The Comédie-Française is decidedly more than just a theatre; it is a true symbol of French culture. Its history, its repertoire and its actors make this institution a must for all theatre lovers. Whether you are passionate about the classics or curious to discover contemporary authors, the Comédie-Française is sure to win you over.

 

Fast Facts
Capacity: 879
Handicap accessible: Yes, please let us know at hello(at)theatreinparis so that we can inform the theatre and give you the best possible welcome.
Air conditioning: Yes
Heating: Yes
Coat check: Free service

FAQ

How do I get to the Comédie-Française in the 1st arrondissement of Paris?

Comédie-Française is accessible by:
Metro: Line 1 (Palais-Royal - Musée du Louvre station), Line 14 (Pyramides)
Address: 1 place Colette, 75001 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 Comédie-Française?

As part of the Vigipirate Plan, we would like to inform you that personal belongings will be systematically checked. We therefore ask you to arrive at La Comédie-Française as early as possible to avoid any inconvenience caused by late arrival and the checking of your items.

We recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of Scapin the Schemer. Show your ticket at reception and the staff of La Comédie-Française will take care of you.

How long does the theatre piece, Scapin the Schemer, last?

The theater piece Scapin the Schemer at the Comédie-Française lasts approximately 2 hours, with no intermission.

Is Scapin the Schemer for an international audience or French speakers?

For both! La Comédie-Française welcomes audiences from all over the world. The play Scapin the Schemer is performed in French with surtitles in English, French and French Sign Language. Smart, connected glasses are used to view the surtitles. This technology was developed by Panthea and Theatre in Paris!

What are smart glasses and how will I be able to see the surtitles*?

The Comédie-Française has teamed up with Theatre in Paris' sister company, Panthea, to provide smart glasses for surtitling! A visionary breakthrough!
How do smart glasses for surtitling work? These smart glasses include a new technology developed by Panthea that enables surtitles to be shown in an individual spectator’s view, within the glasses, during a live performance. In addition to the surtitles, these Augmented Reality glasses can also be connected to a headset for Audio Description as well as display a video with sign language depending on the show. These features not only make performances accessible to a wider audience but also allow for audience members to have a personalized experience in a way that suits them best.

 

The theatre piece Scapin the Schemer will be performed in French with surtitles in English, French and French Sign Language via Panthea’s smart glasses.
*Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. Funfact: In French “sur” means “above”.

Can I choose my seat when booking?

When purchasing tickets for Scapin the Schemer, choose your preferred category and you will be allocated the best available seats in that category!

Please note that tickets of the same category that are booked during the same purchase session, in the same booking order on our website are always assigned side by side. To be sure of this, make sure all of your tickets are in the same category and are included in your shopping cart at the time of purchase.
If there are no available adjacent seating arrangements, our customer service team will contact you before the booking is confirmed.

 

You can find the seating plan in the theatre’s "photo" section on this page.

Is there a dress code at the Comédie-Française?

There is no specific dress code at La Comédie-Française, but proper attire is appreciated. Many Parisians will arrive directly from work, dressed in business casual or chic attire.

Is there a bar or restaurant at the Comédie-Française?

The Comédie-Française has a bar which is open 1 hour before the performance and during the intermission. The bar is not open after the performance.

How far in advance should I book my tickets for Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin the Schemer)?

Comédie-Française plays are always in great demand. We therefore recommend that you book tickets in advance rather than waiting, as dates tend to fill up very quickly.