Le Théâtre Libre

What Le Théâtre Libre does

Le Théâtre Libre is a privately held Parisian performing arts operator running a dual-venue theater complex at 4 Boulevard de Strasbourg in the city's 10th arrondissement. The company, legally La Société d'Exploitation Théâtre Libre (SAS, €8.501M capital), was acquired and rebranded by producer Jean-Marc Dumontet in 2017 from its prior identity as Le Comédia, and traces its physical venue heritage to the Eldorado café-concert of 1858. It operates two performance spaces under one roof: a 934-seat main hall (Théâtre Libre) and a 154-seat secondary venue (La Scène Libre) dedicated to original creative productions, with the smaller venue accessible only by stairs and not suitable for motorized wheelchairs.

The company's core product is live theatrical and dance programming, with a current slate spanning high-profile plays (Potiche, Les Amants Terribles, David Castello-Lopes 'Délicieux'), long-run comedy (Le Cercle des Poètes Disparus, Brassens L'Amour des Mots, Toute l'histoire de la peinture), and dance including Casse-Noisette de Blanca Li and Le Sacre du Printemps. Ticket prices are tiered from €20 to €76 with discounts for under-26, students, unemployed, and seniors, and the venue also offers a Carte Cadeau Paris Spectacle gift card (€30–€400, 2-year validity) valid across six partner Parisian theaters. The technology stack is conventional: a WordPress-based website integrated with the Aparté Web ticketing platform, Google Analytics, and GDPR cookie compliance tooling, with no disclosed AI/ML capability, proprietary platform features, or patents. Ticketing is delivered directly via the venue website, by phone and in-person box office, and through the Paris Spectacles partner network.

The revenue model is predominantly transactional ticket sales, supplemented by ancillary services (bar, cloakroom at €2 per item), group/CSE B2B bookings for enterprises and associations, and gift card revenue. Customer acquisition runs through the venue's own website, social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), email newsletter, and significant earned media coverage from Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Parisien, TF1, France TV, and Télérama. Audience outcomes are notable for the category: Le Cercle des Poètes Disparus has drawn nearly 500,000 spectators and won two 2024 Molière Awards, while Toute l'histoire de la peinture has attracted over 220,000 spectators since 2019. The company serves the general Parisian theatergoing public, youth/student segments via discounted pricing, and corporate clients via a dedicated group sales desk.

Name

Le Théâtre Libre

Legal name

La Société d'Exploitation Théâtre Libre

Website

https://le-theatrelibre.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Le Théâtre Libre is a privately held Parisian performing arts operator running a dual-venue theater (934-seat main hall and 154-seat secondary space) presenting drama, ballet, and comedy to individual theatergoers, youth/student audiences, and corporate groups, with distribution supported by the Paris Spectacles multi-theater gift card network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live theater and performing arts venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Dance Companies (711120), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Live theater performances
• Performing arts venue
• Theatrical productions
• Ballet and dance
• Cultural entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from ticket sales for theatrical performances, ballets, and comedy shows at the Théâtre Libre and La Scène Libre venues. Tickets are sold at varying price points depending on the production and seating category, with special pricing for students, job seekers, seniors, and group bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Le Théâtre Libre is a Paris-based performing arts center that produces and presents live theater, ballet, comedy, and cultural events across two on-site venues — a 934-seat main theater and a 154-seat secondary venue (La Scène Libre). It sells tickets directly to individual consumers and group clients at multiple price tiers, complemented by a gift-card program, group/CSE bookings, and ancillary on-site services such as bar and cloakroom.

Product overview

Le Théâtre Libre operates as a dual-venue Parisian theater complex comprising Le Théâtre Libre (934 seats) and La Scène Libre (154 seats), both located at 4 Boulevard de Strasbourg in Paris's 10th arrondissement. The venues present a varied programming including theatrical productions, ballet performances, comedy shows, and cultural events. The company offers additional services including gift cards (Carte Cadeau Paris Spectacle) redeemable at six partner Parisian theaters for over 130 annual shows, group bookings with discounted rates for organizations, a professional access portal (Espace Pros), bar service, and cloakroom facilities. The Scène Libre specializes in original creative productions while the main Théâtre Libre hosts larger-scale performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Le Théâtre Libre (Main Venue) 934-seat main theater in central Paris (10th arrondissement) presenting theatrical performances, ballets, comedy shows, and cultural events to the general public. Wheelchair accessible.
• La Scène Libre 154-seat secondary venue at the same Paris address, dedicated to original creative productions. Not suitable for motorized wheelchairs (stairs-only access).
• Carte Cadeau Paris Spectacle Multi-venue gift card valid for 2 years, redeemable for 130+ annual performances across 6 partner Parisian theaters and 2 festivals, in denominations from €30 to €400.
• Group Bookings (Groupes-CSE) Dedicated group booking service for companies, local authorities, and associations, offering discounted rates and tailored support for cultural outings.
• Espace Pros Password-protected professional access portal reserved for entertainment industry professionals.
• Bar Service On-site theater bar that opens one hour before each performance, offering refreshments to patrons.
• Cloakroom Service Coat check service at €2 per item; required for motorbike helmets, strollers, bulky objects, and batteries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500,000 spectators for Le Cercle des Poètes Disparus production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paris SpectaclescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParis Spectacles is a ticketing partner network allowing gift cards valid across 6 partner Parisian theaters (Bobino, Théâtre Antoine, Théâtre Libre, Scène Libre, Point Virgule, Grand Point Virgule, Salle Gaveau) for over 130 shows annually. This partnership expands distribution reach and provides cross-theater flexibility for customers.
• Aparté WebcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party ticketing platform used for online reservations. Customers are redirected to Aparté Web for ticket purchases where they provide personal information for order processing, payment, and fraud prevention.
• Institut Slovaque de ParisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of Fashion Ballet featuring the Slovak National Ballet at Le Théâtre Libre, showcasing collaboration between Slovak cultural institutions and the French theater.
• Ministère de la Culture / Direction générale de la création artistiqueminorOthersGovernment cultural ministry providing support for Ballet Julien Lestel productions, including Le Sacre du Printemps.
• Direction des affaires culturelles de Provence-Alpes Côte d'AzurminorOthersRegional cultural authority in Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur providing support for Ballet Julien Lestel productions.
• Centre Culturel Tjibaou (Nouméa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural center that commissioned the ballet Le Sacre du Printemps from Julien Lestel to celebrate the centenary of the original 1913 premiere.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bobino: Parisian theater operated under the same Jean-Marc Dumontet / JMD Production umbrella and explicitly part of the Paris Spectacles gift card network with Le Théâtre Libre; comparable mid-large live entertainment venue serving the same metropolitan audience.
• Théâtre Antoine: Long-established Parisian theater also participating in the Paris Spectacles gift card partnership with Le Théâtre Libre; comparable size and programming mix of comedy and drama for similar Parisian audiences.
• Le Point Virgule: Parisian comedy/theater venue sharing the Paris Spectacles gift card network with Le Théâtre Libre; comparable programming of comedy and one-man shows for similar Paris consumers.
• Salle Gaveau: Historic Parisian concert/performance hall participating in the Paris Spectacles gift card network; comparable seated venue presenting classical, dance, and live performance programming to overlapping Paris audiences.
• Théâtre Mogador: Large Parisian theater (~1,800 seats) presenting musicals and large-scale productions; comparable in market (central Paris live entertainment) but operates at a larger capacity for a different programming niche (musicals vs. drama/ballet).
• Théâtre des Champs-Élysées: Prestigious Parisian venue hosting ballet, opera, and orchestral performances; directly comparable on the dance/ballet and classical performing arts side of Le Théâtre Libre's programming (e.g., Casse-Noisette de Blanca Li, Le Sacre du Printemps).
• Comédie-Française: Historic Parisian national theater with multiple halls producing classical and contemporary drama; comparable in terms of central Paris location, drama-heavy programming, and audience overlap, though operating as a national institution.
• L'Olympia: Iconic Parisian live music and variety venue serving similar central-Paris audiences with comparable ticket price points and programming variety; complementary rather than directly overlapping in genre (music/variety vs. theater/ballet).

Broad incumbents

• Stage Entertainment: Large European theater producer and operator running multiple venues and musicals across the continent; comparable as a multi-venue live entertainment operator, but at much larger scale and with a musical-focused model.
• Fimalac Entertainment (Casino Théâtre Barrière): French entertainment holding with diversified live performance and venue assets; comparable as a French live entertainment group, though materially larger and broader in scope than Le Théâtre Libre.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheatreLibre_
• Facebookfacebook.com/theatrelibreparis
• Instagraminstagram.com/theatrelibreparis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Le Théâtre Libre