Popular national theater

The popular National theater (NPT) is a theater located at Villeurbanne, founded in 1920 by Firmin Gémier. The NPT has the role of developing a policy of spectacles of quality, accessible to the greatest number. Theater “élitaire for all” according to the formula of Antoine Vitez.

History

At its foundation, the NPT is located in the Palais of Chaillot, with Paris. It is charged to assemble spectacles aiming at a popular public. In 1945 the adventure of the NPT stops, and UNO settles in its buildings some time afterwards.

Jean Vilar, which created the Festival of Avignon in 1947, takes the direction of new the NPT in 1951, with the support of Jeanne Laurent. The NPT plays Suresnes while waiting for the restitution of the Palate of Chaillot. Jean Vilar endeavors to offer the spectacles of quality, but accessible to greatest number, designing the theater like a public service among others. Under its direction, the NPT sticks a troop of young people and brilliant actors, in particular Gerard Philippe, which it directs in '' Cid '' or the Prince de Hombourg of Heinrich von Kleist. Creations multiply, Jean Vilar supporting the traditional ones.

It is about one of the first theater having an own development strategy. The public is attracted while going to meets and by implementing a policy of communication, based on the review Bref and especially on collaboration with associations, the work's councils. Jean Vilar thus manages to open the theater and to give him a new image, even if it is reproached to him never for not being parvenu to make come the “working public”. The NPT is a model on which many other theaters in province develop.

In 1963, Georges Wilson succeeds Vilar and creates one second room dedicated to the contemporary authors.

In 1972, the Theater of Chaillot is entrusted to Antoine Vitez and Jacques Duhamel, Minister for the cultural Affairs decides to transfer the NPT to the Theater from the City, founded in 1957 in Villeurbanne by Roger Planchon. The NPT passes under the direction of Patrice Chéreau, Robert Gilbert and Roger Planchon, with the explicit mission to present its creations through France, in the network of the national cultural institutions.

In 1986, Georges Lavaudant replaces Patrice Chéreau and division the direction of the NPT with Roger Planchon until in 1996. Then in 2002, Christian Schiaretti leaves the Comédie of Rheims to take the head of the NPT.

Today, the NPT counts a troop of ten permanent actors.

External bond

Official site

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