Place Jean-Vilar

Place Jean-Vilar stands in the thirteenth arrondissement of Paris as a tribute to one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century French theater. The square is named after the actor and director Jean Vilar, who dedicated his career to the idea that theater should be a public service accessible to everyone. He is best remembered as the founder of the Avignon Festival and for his transformative leadership of the Théâtre National Populaire, where he successfully championed the concept of a popular theater that bridged the gap between elite culture and the general public.