Vive la Vie

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Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse

Until April 29, 2020

French surtitled in English
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Vive la Vie

Location

Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse
26 rue de la Gaîté, 75014 Paris
Capacity 400 seats

Duration

1 hour 

No intermissions


Details

Musical

Recommended for all ages 

French with English subtitles


Highlights: Vive la Vie

An exciting performance that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and leave every inch of your body shaking with an urge to satisfy your curiosity! Ever wondered what our great-great-grandparents had to go through in order to provide us with the life we currently have? A reflective piece created by Thomas Laubacher and directed by André Pignat and Géraldine Lonfat exposes life back in the 20th century and how it differs from today’s existence. With a composition of original songs and dance, the show transforms into a representation of the harsh reminder of what families had to go through to survive a world war and a tough evolution. Credited as a stimulating performance that will grasp the attention of spectators from the beginning.

Story: Vive la Vie

There have been many changes as well as progress throughout history from the creation of electricity, flowing water available whenever necessary, and wireless devices, slowly changing habits within society. Vive la Vie really helps us appreciate what we have today. 

With a group of expressive contemporary dancers, singers with hypnotizing voices full of energy singing to lyrics in different dialects such as Latin, and talented acrobatic jugglers all expressing the day to day life of a family of peasants slowly transforming into a functioning hard-working society.  

Unstoppable, poignant, and multifaceted…an exciting performance with powerful scenes which will ignite a rollercoaster of various emotions from within!

Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse

26 rue de la Gaîté, 75014 Paris

Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse


The concept of ‘Café-concerts’ were extremely popular in Paris in the second half of the 19th century. People used to go along to watch a show – typically mime, dance or cabaret – whilst eating, drinking and, inevitably, being rowdy. This was how the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse started when it opened its doors in 1868.

 

Later on, however, the 1930s represent a bleak period in the venue’s history, due to the decline in popularity of café-concert culture. The theatre’s repertoire became more and more vulgar, with the direction desperately offering increasingly sultry shows to try to attract spectators, before eventually giving up. The Second World War, however, saw various troops of singers taking to the stage, who brought the theatre a newfound popularity. In 1945, an avant-garde theatre company rented the venue, bringing with them various sketches, musical shows, parodies and poetry recitals. Among performers was a young Juliette Gréco, who made her debut on the stage of the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse, in a show named 'Victor ou les enfants au pouvoir'.

 

Facing a more serious threat of demolition in 1988, various influential names in the performance industry rallied round to save the theatre, and it’s been in continuous operation ever since. Listed as a historical monument since 1984, the Théâtre de la Gaïté Montparnasse is a true success story, showing the value in never giving up!

 

Fast facts

Capacity: 400

Handicap Accessible? Yes, please contact us to ensure proper seating in accessible areas

Air conditioning? Yes

Théâtre Gaîté Montparnasse Wikimédia

FAQ

Is the show accessible to English speakers?

The show is entirely in French, but it is accessible to English speakers through an on-screen subtitling system. We wish to provide French and Non- French-speaking audiences with the utmost comfort while watching the show.

How do I get to Théâtre de la Gaîté- Montparnasse?

Théàtre De La Gaité Montparnasse, 26 rue de la Gaité, 75014 Paris, is accessible by métro line 4 to destination Edgar Quinet and metro line 13 with a final stop in Gaite. It is also possible to get to the theatre through bus lines 92 towards Pueaux, 94 final stop Genevilliers, and bus line 95. For details, we invite you to consult the map above.

Is Théâtre de la Gaîté- Montparnasse Handicap accessible?

Théâtre de la Gaîté- Montparnasse is equipped with a PMR access in an orchestra. If you are in a wheelchair, we invite you to call the theatre at 01 43 20 60 56 in order for them to prepare for your arrival.

Does the theatre have air-conditioning?

Yes, Théâtre de la Gaîté- Montparnasse is equipped with air- conditioning.

What do I do when I get to the venue?

We invite you to arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the show and present your voucher at the front desk. The theater's English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats.

Subtitles or “surtitles?”

Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the equivalent theater of subtitles or as others may know it, captioned performance. That's because in French "on" means "above". At Théàtre De La Gaité Montparnasse, the text is projected above the stage. Read more about surtitles here.

Is tipping customary?

Tips are not mandatory in Parisian theatres. However, ushers will usually expect a small tip of between 2€ and 5€, which you can give them when they've shown you to your seat. Fun fact: the French word for “tip” is “pourboire,” which literally translates to “to have a drink.”

Does the venue have a specific dress code?

For Parisian plays, the dress tends to be casual, so feel free to dress in comfortable attire though we recommend avoiding caps and flip-flops. It is common for Parisians to arrive directly from work, dressed in smart- casual chic attire.