Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse, a former café-concert venue

Published by Philippine de Sortiraparis · Updated on April 8, 2024 at 11:24 a.m.
The Théâtre de la Gaité-Montparnasse is located in the Montparnasse district, in the 14th arrondissement. Inaugurated in 1868, the theater was originally a café-concert.

The Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse, located at 26 rue de la Gaité, is a stone's throw from the Gare Montparnasse train station . Its distinctive red façade is easy to spot on the busy street.

This historic theater owes its creation toNapoleon III's Universal Exhibition of 1867. The aim of the exhibition was to promote the France of the Third Republic to the whole world, bringing together over 50,000 exhibitors and welcoming the Russian Tsar, the Emperor of Japan and the German Kaiser. A temporary theater was created for the occasion. The following year, following the destruction of the theater, limonadier François Jamin rebuilt a new one, using materials from the old theater. The Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse was born in 1868.

First operated as a café-concert until the end of the Second World War, great artists such as Polin, Dorville and Yvette Guilbert performed here. Later transformed into an avant-garde theater, it was finally bought and renovated by Michel Fagadau in 1955. It was listed as aHistoric Monument on April 3, 1984.

With its 401-seat auditorium, the theater has become an essential venue for comedy and musical shows in Paris. Despite its size, the venue manages to retain an intimate atmosphere. Since 2010, the Gaîté-Montparnasse has belonged to the Théâtres parisiens associés, an association of 50 private Parisian theaters.

A magnificent venue full of history at 26 rue de la Gaité, in Paris's 14th arrondissement.

News from the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse

Cinq de Cœur fête ses 30 ans à la Gaîté MontparnasseCinq de Cœur fête ses 30 ans à la Gaîté MontparnasseCinq de Cœur fête ses 30 ans à la Gaîté MontparnasseCinq de Cœur fête ses 30 ans à la Gaîté Montparnasse Cinq de Cœur marks its 30th anniversary at La Gaîté Montparnasse
Cinq de Cœur presents Un air de fête at the Gaîté Montparnasse in Paris, nine special performances from November 4, 2026 to June 2, 2027, staged by Virginie Lemoine. [Read more]

L'embarras du choix au théâtre Michel dès août 2021L'embarras du choix au théâtre Michel dès août 2021L'embarras du choix au théâtre Michel dès août 2021L'embarras du choix au théâtre Michel dès août 2021 The Dilemma of Choice at the Gaîté Montparnasse in 2026
L’Embarras du choix, interactive comedy by Sébastien Azzopardi and Sacha Danino, is on at the Gaîté Montparnasse in Paris in 2026. The audience decides the rest of the story. [Read more]

La Claque à la Gaîté Montparnasse, la pièce de Fre Radix sur l'histoire de la claque au théâtreLa Claque à la Gaîté Montparnasse, la pièce de Fre Radix sur l'histoire de la claque au théâtreLa Claque à la Gaîté Montparnasse, la pièce de Fre Radix sur l'histoire de la claque au théâtreLa Claque à la Gaîté Montparnasse, la pièce de Fre Radix sur l'histoire de la claque au théâtre Fred Radix's La Claque at La Gaîté Montparnasse: the history of theater claque
Fred Radix brings to his show, La Claque, an interactive piece in which he chooses to revisit the history of the claque (applause) in the theater. A production on the Gaîté Montparnasse bill, running from 21 September 2025 to 23 May 2027. [Read more]

Practical information

Location

26 rue de la Gaîté
75014 Paris 14

Route planner
Accessibility info

Official website
gaite.com

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