Théâtre Rutebeuf

The Théâtre Rutebeuf occupies a building that was originally conceived in 1909 as a municipal hall and community space. Construction was delayed by the First World War, and the site eventually opened in 1925 as a multipurpose venue that once housed a police station, a library, and a music conservatory. Its current theatrical identity only solidified in 1990 following the closure of the city's last independent cinema. The building features a distinctive double facade that reflects its history of varied civic functions. The entrance facing the allées Gambetta is an elegant neoclassical structure decorated with garlands and stone cornucopias. In contrast, the rear side facing the rue Henri Barbusse is built from utilitarian brick and features large windows, a design choice meant to prioritize efficiency for the municipal offices that once operated there. The theater is named after a medieval poet and trouvère of the thirteenth century. A bronze statue of the poet, originally displayed in the city hall, now stands in the theater's hall to greet visitors. This tribute references the local history of the region, as the poet was historically associated with the forest of Rouvray, which once covered this part of Clichy and remains today in the form of the Bois de Boulogne.