Theaters Central

As is so aptly stated, the Theatre du Portal Sud is located… just opposite the South Gate of the Cathedral. At the bottom of the courtyard, on the left, at the top of the wooden stairs, behind a heavy curtain: This is where this tiny theatre of character is perched. Yesterday's and today's pieces are played in front of a public who cries a little, laughs a lot, shudder passionately, and loves madness. It should not be missed: The 100% Theatre Portal Sud, which turns out to be games delicacies. And if you want to "push the walls of the theatre and your own inner walls", then you will be welcome to adult workshops, teenagers, or children.

Since its creation in 1794, the Opéra de Tours has established itself as a national opera house. In its splendid Italian-style auditorium, director Laurent Campellone and Patricia Petibon, godmother of the 2023-2024 season, present women fighting against their destiny and diktats. Other news: a partnership with Milan's prestigious Teatro alla Scala; and the creation of an "Orchestre Populaire de l'Opéra de Tours". What's more, the Opéra has been declared a historic monument - all the more reason to go and see it!

With its Italian style, the Teatro de Chartres is proudly on the edge of the boulevard offering extremely rich programming. In fact, in the heart of this magnificent red and gold theatre, and in this empowered stage, classic plays and contemporary pieces are played. It also happens to the dancers, the musicians, and the comics to trample on the floor of this old theatre, the time of some performances. Without forgetting the shows for the (very) young public, who will undoubtedly be surprised by the magic of the place. So watch the programming, and quickly join red velvet chairs… or the scene, incidentally. For the Teatro de Chartres also offers year-round workshops for children and adolescents. Find out more!

It was in the prestigious and intimate part of Saint-Julien Chapel that the Threshold Theatre was elected. From October to May, and surprise surprises, this little theatre offers you programming rich in musical emotions… among others. For it is, above all, a theatre, hence the splendour of the French language: some parts are of course programmed; and above all, the end of the year shows with the shows of the workshops. Indeed, the Threshold Theatre also has the status of theatre and dance school, for small and large. Particularity of this theatre school: it engages with atypical school-based schools, providing courses for people with disabilities for example.

This theatre troupe settled in Argenton, and established its neighbourhoods in a superb 150-seat tent, the Dibbouk, where it prepares the creations it presents in front of the Argentonnais before starting tours. In 2006, the troupe presented the very marked "Letters to the son" of Vassili Grossman.

In 2022, the Plessis opens its horizons even more by wanting to develop as a "third place". Would Louis XI have imagined such a life for his castle? The historic building has been home to the Cano Lopez company for more than 20 years, which has turned it into a Spanish hostel for all kinds of artists. In addition to the company's creations, the place hosts artists' residencies, concerts, plays and exhibitions in the 72-seat room or in the bar area, which is always convivial. And with the "tiers-lieu", live the perpetual movement!

Over the past thirty years, the Théâtre en Pièces company has become a fixture on the Chartres cultural scene, and with good reason. The company regularly presents readings, performances, debates and exhibitions in its charmingly cramped Théâtre de Poche at the Abbeyes Saint-Brice and at the new OFF theater in Chartres. While the Théâtre de Poche's location is a little off the beaten track from the city center, its rich and often engaging program is well worth the detour. An unforgettable experience guaranteed. What's more, if you live in or near Chartres, if you like theater, if you'd like to go further and take classes, you should know that the theater school, supervised by professional actors, offers workshops all year round, for young and old alike, provided they are rigorous and available: personal commitment required!

Rich, the programming of the Espace Artists certainly is. Varied, too. Accessible, especially. Indeed, the scene of Ascend welcomes theater troops as well as circus companies, clowns, puppeteers, storytellers, musicians, singers, comics… Often, when the lights activated at the end of the show, spectators feel different, as changed by the magic of living art. These shows will not leave you indifferent and may give you a little glow in the heart…

CDNT, Tº, Théâtre Olympia... The National Dramatic Center of Tours has several names! But it is always at the same place, rue de Lucé, that we find each season a program where contemporary creations occupy a good place, under the direction of Jacques Vincey. About fifteen proposals are to be discovered each season, without forgetting the partnerships with other local theaters to welcome bigger productions. Since 2016, the WET festival has brought together young companies from all over France for three days, for an anthology of creations in several places in the agglomeration. And the smart idea: lunch or a snack at the Tº cafeteria.

L, Association Theatre Today Orléans is an association of spectators who, since 1970, have been organizing the hosting of theatre professional performances, which they want to share with the greatest number. Subsidized by the city, the general council and the national office for artistic dissemination, the ATAO offers 5 to 6 performances per season, represented at the Orleans Theatre or the Gérard Philippe Theatre. Subscription formulas are particularly interesting and encourage the benefit of full programming with a very significant discount on ticket prices. The shows chosen each year offer a varied pannel of the cprésenté theatre in the city of Orléans.

Since 2009, the Association Théatro-France offers this theatre immersion in beauce countries. In the programme, parts of the classical repertoire, always affordable for the general public, be it Chekhov, Molière, creations, adaptations etc. The decor is cared for and the programming is intense and for the reason: behind this festival is Rémy Henry, director of the Darius Milhaud Theatre in Paris.