To coincide with the exhibition « The Comédie-Française Collections Touring Arnaga », Villa Arnaga is organizing a conference dedicated to the history of the renowned "House of Molière". Founded in 1680, the Comédie-Française, Europe's oldest theatre company, holds collections that trace over three centuries of theatrical history.
Louis-Gilles Pairault, curator-archivist of the Comédie-Française's Library-Museum, will guide attendees through archives, manuscripts, registers, portraits of actors, set models, and performance-related objects. The conference will explore the evolution of the repertoire, the company's organization, its buildings, and the lives of its spectators, from the figure of Molière to the great personalities who have marked the French stage.
This event will also echo the current exhibition at Villa Arnaga, which features several works from the Comédie-Française's collections, including portraits of Sarah Bernhardt, Mounet-Sully, Cécile Sorel, André Brunot, and Coquelin aîné. It offers a unique opportunity to rediscover these works and journey through 350 years of French theatre history.
The conference will take place on Friday, September 25th at 5 PM in the Orangerie of Villa Arnaga. Admission is free.
