L'École de danse: Goldoni at the Comédie-Française in a set inspired by the Palais Garnier

Comédie-Française adds L'École de danse, a little-known play by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Clément Hervieu-Léger and translated by Françoise Decroisette, to the Répertoire. Presented from November 14, 2025 to January 3, 2026 at the Salle Richelieu, this new production has been designed on the same set as Le Misanthrope, which will also be presented during this period. This approach, inspired by the "décors à volonté" of theatrical tradition, is accompanied by original set design byÉric Ruf, evoking the world of the Palais Garnier. The show's aesthetic is imbued with the spirit of the 19th century as magnified by Edgar Degas, between dance halls, backstage and performance stages.

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L'École de danse plunges into the daily life of a group of young dancers in training, supervised by an authoritarian and financially troubled master. The latter hopes to seduce a visiting impresario to ensure the profitability of his troupe. But the students, torn between rigid discipline, precarious conditions and a desire for emancipation, begin to rebel. In this tense environment, art and sentiment become vectors of freedom. Goldoni, in search of a theater closer to nature and real life, composes a choral play in which several strong-willed, free-spoken female figures stand out.

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The show is aimed at lovers of classical theater, curious to rediscover unjustly forgotten texts, but also at spectators sensitive to the links between the arts, in this case between theater and dance. The play offers a historical perspective on the conditions of artistic training, while resonating with contemporary themes such as emancipation, power relationships and precariousness in the cultural milieu. Those expecting a tight plot or commedia dell'arte-like comic devices may find a more realistic and subtle theater, far removed from certain clichés associated with Goldoni's name.

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With L'École de danse, presented from November 14, 2025 to January 3, 2026 at the Comédie-Française, Clément Hervieu-Léger resurrects a forgotten text by Goldoni in a set inspired by the Palais Garnier. This behind-the-scenes choral piece about a dance school explores the tensions between authority, the desire for freedom and the power of art, echoing the concerns of our time.

This article is based on information available to date and is not based on a viewing of the show.

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