Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell

The Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell features a tall, curved facade decorated with classical columns and carved masks representing comedy and tragedy. King Louis the Eighteenth commissioned this building in eighteen twenty to serve as a training ground for young actors from the Conservatory. Playwrights like Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo premiered their early works on this stage. During the premiere of one play, the audience rioted so violently that the performance was halted, forcing the actors to flee through the back exits.