Le Lucernaire

Le Lucernaire is a cultural centre in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, located at 53, rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs. It was founded in 1968 by Christian Le Guillochet and his wife Luce Berthommé, with the support of actor Laurent Terzieff, near the Montparnasse station in impasse Odessa. Ten years later, displaced by the construction of the Tour Montparnasse, it moved into a former disused factory on rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs. The venue is designed as a street, with cobblestones, a Wallace fountain, public benches and street lamps forming the decor. It aims to cross-fertilise the arts, artists (famous or beginner) and audiences, and remains a popular theatre of creation. The centre comprises three theatre halls (Théâtre rouge, 118 seats; Théâtre noir, 118 seats; Paradis, 50 seats), three art-house cinema screens of about fifty seats each, an exhibition gallery dedicated to contemporary photography, a small bookshop, a restaurant and a bar called L'Avant-Scène. It also organises concerts, public theatrical or poetic readings, debates on social issues and book presentations. Six to eight shows are offered each day. Four theatre companies are in residence: Chimène Compagnie, Compagnie du Théâtre Mordoré, Compagnie Vincent Colin and Compagnie Philippe Person. In September 2015, the Lucernaire opened its drama school under the direction of Philippe Person. In the early 2000s, the venue faced difficulties and the founder wished to sell. In 2004, Christian Le Guillochet sold Le Lucernaire to the group owning the publishing house L'Harmattan. The new team revitalised the venue and attendance increased. A third theatre hall, le Paradis, opened in 2006, dedicated to contemporary creation and theatrical research. The building was renovated and brought up to safety standards. The venue, which had received public subsidies, has received no subsidy for theatre since the change of owner. In autumn 2023, Le Lucernaire was sold for 7.3 million euros by HDP, the holding company of L'Harmattan, to the investment fund Adhema. Today, Le Lucernaire continues to present a diverse programme of theatre, cinema, exhibitions and events, maintaining its identity as a national centre for art and essay (centre national d'art et d'essai).

Le Lucernaire was created in 1968 near the Montparnasse station, in impasse Odessa, by Christian Le Guillochet and his wife Luce Berthommé, with the support of actor Laurent Terzieff. The goal was to create a meeting place for the arts. Ten years later, expelled by the construction works of the Tour Montparnasse, it moved into a former disused factory at 53, rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs. Built as a street, with cobblestones, a Wallace fountain, public benches and street lamps forming the decor, Le Lucernaire promotes contemporary creation in the gallery, cinema and theatre halls, and the rediscovery of classics. In the 1980s, Le Lucernaire offered a stage to young singers. For example, the recital of René-Louis Baron was presented to the public over about fifteen sessions, recorded live and broadcast by France Inter during the programme "Spectacle-Inter". In the early 2000s, Le Lucernaire encountered difficulties and the founder wished to sell the venue. The State announced its intention to disengage. The public authorities nevertheless wished "that another cultural animator be found, with a sufficiently attractive subsidy to not only ensure the sustainability of the venue, but also assume the necessary works for its modernisation". In 2004, Christian Le Guillochet sold Le Lucernaire to the group owning the editions L'Harmattan. The new team revitalised the venue and attendance increased. A third theatre hall was opened in 2006: le Paradis. It is dedicated to contemporary creation or theatrical research. The building was renovated and brought up to safety standards. The venue, which had benefited from public subsidies, has received no subsidy for theatre since the change of owner. Christian Le Guillochet, co-founder of the venue with his wife Luce Berthommé, published in 2006 with editions L'Harmattan a book recounting the history of Le Lucernaire: 50 ans de théâtre, depuis l'impasse Odessa jusqu'à la rue Notre-Dame des Champs. In autumn 2023, Le Lucernaire was sold for 7.3 million euros by HDP, the holding company of the editions L'Harmattan. The venue was bought by the investment fund Adhema. In September 2015, for the first year, Le Lucernaire opened its drama school, under the direction of Philippe Person. The school is turned towards research and creation, with encounters with active professionals from different horizons, and is a unique place for training in both dramatic art techniques and the realities of the acting profession.

• 2023

  Sold for 7.3 million euros by HDP to investment fund Adhema.

• 2015

  Drama school opened under the direction of Philippe Person.

• 2006

  Third theatre hall, le Paradis, opened; building renovated and brought up to safety standards.

• 2006

  Christian Le Guillochet published a book on the history of Le Lucernaire with L'Harmattan.

• 2004

  Sold by Christian Le Guillochet to the group owning editions L'Harmattan.

• 1980

  Offered a stage to young singers, including René-Louis Baron's recital broadcast by France Inter.

• 1978

  Moved to 53, rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs due to construction of Tour Montparnasse.

• 1968

  Le Lucernaire founded by Christian Le Guillochet and Luce Berthommé in impasse Odessa, near Montparnasse station.

A popular theatre of creation and a national centre for art and essay, fostering encounters between arts and audiences.

• Théâtre rouge

  Theatre hall with 118 seats.

• Théâtre noir

  Theatre hall with 118 seats.

• Le Paradis

  Theatre hall with 50 seats, dedicated to contemporary creation and theatrical research.

• Cinema screens

  Three art-house screens of about fifty seats each.

• Galerie d'exposition

  Gallery dedicated to contemporary photography, open during the day and used as a waiting room in the evening.

• Librairie

  Bookshop offering books on theatre and cinema, youth books, comics, pocket books and humanities.

• Restaurant and bar

  Restaurant serving traditional cuisine and bar L'Avant-Scène.

• École d'art dramatique

  Drama school opened in 2015, directed by Philippe Person.

1. 1Le Lucernaire | Théâtre - Cinéma - Café - Restaurant - Librairielucernaire.fr
2. 2Lucernaire - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Lucernaire (centre culturel) - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org