THE PERFORMING ARTS

France is traditionally very generous in state patronage of the arts. The result is a rich variety in the performing arts, with Paris naturally being centre stage. Tourist information centres will be able to tell you what forthcoming productions and events are planned in your own area.

Music

Paris naturally has a high concentration of fine concert halls, such as the Salle Pleyel, but the wealth of fine churches provides a secondary source of concert venues. Among the most popular church venues are the Eglise St Séeverin in the 5th, and La Madeleine in the 8th.

The Anglophone expatriate communities are very well served by semi-professional musicians in and around Paris. Many touring British choirs stop off in Paris and sing in one of the city’s great churches, and details of these visits can always be found at the Anglophone community centres. The main popular music concert venues are Bercy, Le Bataclan (11th), La Cigale (18th), and L'Olympia (9th). Tickets and listings ca be found at both the Virgin Megastores and the main FNAC stores.

Opera and ballet

Opera flourishes in Paris, not only in the new Opéra Bastill, but also at the Opéra-Comique in Place Boieldieu, and sometimes also at the old Paris Opera (the Palais Garnier), and in other theatres such as the Theâtre Chatelet. Both traditional and modern operas are included in their repertoires. The Paris Ballet is now housed at the grand Opé Garnier, and provides a full programme each season. Visiting ballets also regularly appear in Paris.

Theatre

The theatre in Paris especially thrives, with many small theatres offering the chance for new actors and productions to appear before the public. The most famous French theatre is the Comedie-Française, which now has three theatres.

There are also occasional performances in English in Paris, at the following addresses and by different companies:

• The Shakespeare Garden in the Bois de Boulogne. An open-air summer season with a company from the UK. Tel: 01 42 27 39 54.
• Théâtre de Nesle, 8 rue de Nesle, 75006 Paris. Tel: 01 46 34 61 04. A small cellar theatre with regular productions in English, including children’s shows.
• Sudden Theatre, 14bis, rue St Isaure, 76018 Paris. Tel: 01 42 62 35 00. A repertory theatre providing a welcome to English language companies and their followers.
• Dear Conjunction. Tel: 01 42 85 09 57. Justifiably the Anglo community’s favourite company. American and English Paris resident professionals, alternate performances in English and French. Broad range of material performed at various venues. Watch the Anglo press for details and follow the crowd.
• The International Players. Tel: 01 39 62 79 64 (see also www.britishinfrance.com ). Musical productions from Gilbert and Sullivan to Grease, with popular pantomimes at Christmas. Normally performs in Anglo-land’ Le Vesinet. Generally high standard and a good night out.
• Paris theatres with productions in English. The Bouffes du Nord (10th), MC93 in Bobigny (93), and Les Amandiers at Nanterre (92) all occasionally have productions in English, normally of very high quality by visiting directors or companies.

Going to the cinema

Cinema is one of the great passions of the French, which they consider to be the ‘7th art'. Paris has two film festivals sponsored by the city. Other festivals take place throughout the year linked to particular themes, and there is also an American Film Festival at Deauville and a British film festival at Dinard.

Films in English with French sub-titles are widely shown and are marked v.o. (version originale). V.F (version française) means that films have been dubbed. Premières (first nights) are great occasions, but there are plenty of avants-premières now which are advertised in the press. Wednesday is the day that new films come out in France, and is worth avoiding at cinemas if you want a quiet night out. Late-night showings are available at various cinemas across Paris, such as the UGC Ciné-Citée in Les Halles or the Pathé-Wepler at Place de Clichy. For cinema times check Pariscope, Officiel & Spectacles or Zurban. The latter also has details of cinema passes which are available.

Essential reading

Weekly entertainment guides coincide with new films every Wednesday. General news magazines come out on Thursdays. The newspapers publish their critiques on different days. Amongst the best guides are:

• In English:
  • Time Out quarterly magazines
  • The Free Voice
  • FUSAC (listings only)
  • Where (monthly subscription magazine, tel: 01 43 12 56 56).
• In French:
  • Pariscope
  • Zurban
  • A nous Paris
  • Officiels & Spectacles
  • Nova
  • Aden (weekly supplement of Le Monde)
  • Libération (each day)
  • Le Figaroscope (weekly supplement of Le Figaro) and the Paris supplement to L'Express.

Zurban is probably the best observer of what is going on, and A nous Paris in its new format is still more subjective in its views. Where offers a good variety of restaurant reviews and feature articles, but Time Out remains the best guide in English.