T h e a t e r o f t h e C é l e s t i n s
Introducing the 19th century in Lyon will be my last article. This century has changed things worldwide. It started to shape the world as we know it now. Indeed, the telephone, photography, and the electricity were all invented during this century and they represent a major turn in history. Cities have evolved around the inventions made. Nowadays, because we still use what was discovered at that time, it is interesting to see how the 19th century was in itself a (r)evolution.
I decided to write about The Theater of the Celestins, which is one of the oldest theaters in France. For more than 200 years, the theater has hosted drama plays. It is a beautiful building that every person should have the opportunity to see. I live not far from it, and I love to sit on its place in the summer because the pink trees that are in front of it are beautiful. This theater has an international dimension and people have the opportunity to see famous plays but also new ones. The place where the theater is used to being a convent, but after the French Revolution, the city decided to create a theater, but it decided to change the name a little: Celestines became Celestins. The first time the building was renovated was in 1881 by Gaspard André. Indeed, some fires had seriously damaged the building in 1871 and 1880. The history of the building is impressive. Even if it has changed with times, the feeling one has when entering the theater is magical. It is as if all had been conceived to make you travel in the past.
Its architecture has been influenced by the Italian style; this is also why it is sometimes called “theatre à l’italienne”. The inside part of the theater is a perfect example of this influence. The room is horseshoe-shaped and all the arches remind us of the Renaissance in Italy, and the Ionic and Corinthian columns make us think of the Roman architecture. The beautiful balconies that are present all across the room were a typical illustration of how society was organized in the past: the social classes were strictly divided. As in skyscrapers today, the higher people were, the most important they were. The presence of different floors for the different kind of people is also an Italian reference because the theaters were designed for the audience to be above the stage.
The ceiling with its big chandelier might be the best piece of art inside the theater in my opinion. The way it lights the room and the paintings that are surrounding it are beautiful. They represent the Greek mythology, which is interesting dealing with the fact that Greece was well known for its plays and tragedies in the antiquity. The influence of the past is all the time with us in the Theater. All the influences combined give us the opportunity to understand the whole history of theatrical arts. Keeping this chandelier but modernizing it gave a chance to producers to play more with lights for their plays. The feeling that is created is thus more real.
This place still has so much importance for the city because it gathers all the changes time has made in the history of the city. As I said, it gives anyone the impression of travelling in different periods of time. Nowadays, I feel like more and more people can be inspired by this place. The plays are always different and they can easily find a public. Which is great about this place is the fact that one can see a new play that maybe one day will be considered as a classic. The theater of the Celestins gives me the impression that this place is special, that everything that happens there is going to change in some way history. It makes me feel magic.
