Bastille Theater

What Bastille Theater does

Théâtre de la Bastille is a publicly funded performing arts venue in the 11th arrondissement of Paris operating under the legal entity SASU La Manufacture. The venue comprises two performance spaces totaling 416 seats (261 and 155 seats respectively) and programs contemporary theater, dance, and performance works within an annual September-June season model. Since 2022 the theater has functioned as a fully public cultural institution, following a transition from hybrid status, with operational support from the French Ministry of Culture (DRAC Île-de-France), Ville de Paris, and Région Île-de-France.

Programming is organized through an Artistic Parliament (Parlement Artistique) governance model in which four associated artists rotate across seasons, each steering a thematic 'Écho du monde' editorial arc. The 2026-2027 season is shaped by Betty Tchomanga under the theme 'À bord du navire-monde'. Since 2023, under Director Claire Dupont, the theater has begun operating as 'production déléguée' (lead producer) for in-house creations, with two house productions currently touring nationally and internationally. The theater's revenue model combines ticket sales (unit pricing, group rates, and reduced tariffs from €6 to €22+), annual subscriptions, and recurrent public subsidies.

The venue operates an extensive partnership network spanning Festival d'Automne à Paris, Théâtre de la Cité internationale, Le Mouffetard, ONDA, and 12+ other co-production and touring partners. In 2025, the theater was selected by the French Ministry of Culture to lead the Rivages communs Euro-Mediterranean pole of production and diffusion, in partnership with Scène nationale de l'Essonne, Théâtre des 13 vents, and Théâtre Joliette, extending its reach into the Mediterranean region. Accessibility services (audio description, surtitling, relaxed performances, FALC programs) and educational outreach to schools and universities at €10 per student constitute an additional programmatic layer. Staffing comprises 11-50 personnel including permanent technical, administrative, and communications roles, supplemented by intermittent technicians.

Name

Bastille Theater

Legal name

SASU La Manufacture

Website

https://theatre-bastille.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Théâtre de la Bastille is a publicly funded contemporary performing arts venue in Paris's 11th arrondissement, operating two halls (416 seats) to program theater and dance across an annual season, serving individual theatergoers, school groups, and accessibility-focused audiences through subscriptions, group rates, and public subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Theater

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Venue Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations (Ushers, Box Office, Accessibility) (MPAGALAK)

Keywords

• Contemporary theater venue
• Live performing arts
• Dance performances
• Theater season programming
• Performance art productions

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from individual and group ticket sales across the season's programmed performances. Standard and reduced pricing tiers available. Group bookings (8+ persons) at a discounted rate.
2. Annual Season Subscriptions: Season subscriptions ('abonnements') offering discounted per-show pricing for committed subscribers.
3. Public Subsidies: Institutional funding from the French Ministry of Culture (Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d'Île-de-France), Ville de Paris, and Région Île-de-France supports operations, programming, and the Rivages communs pole.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Contemporary theater and dance venue in Paris's 11th arrondissement with two performance halls (261 seats and 155 seats). Produces and hosts contemporary performance works under the Artistic Parliament governance model, creates in-house productions for touring through the Rivages communs Euro-Mediterranean pole, and offers workshops, group visits, and accessibility services.

Product overview

Théâtre de la Bastille is a performing arts venue in Paris (11th arrondissement) with two performance halls (261 and 155 seats) that programs theater, dance, and performance works. The theater operates as a venue hosting guest productions and creating its own work, including two house productions: 'Je meurs de ne pas mourir (Les deux vies de Thérèse)' and 'Ix : variations'. Additional offerings include audience engagement activities (workshops, play sessions, writing workshops), accessibility services (audio-described performances, soft performances, FALC programs), and educational outreach programs for schools and universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rivages communs: Euro-Mediterranean pole of production and diffusion, launched in 2025, bringing together Théâtre de la Bastille (Paris), Scène nationale de l'Essonne (Évry), Théâtre des 13 vents (Montpellier), and Théâtre Joliette (Marseille). This pole supports Mediterranean artists and international circulation of works.

Products and services

• Theater Season Programming Annual programming of contemporary theater, dance, and performance works presented in two halls (261 seats and 155 seats) across the season. Targeted at individual arts audiences.
• Annual Season Subscription Annual subscription (abonnement) that allows individual patrons to attend multiple performances throughout the season at reduced rates. Includes options such as "Duo" subscription for two persons.
• Group Bookings Discounted ticketing packages for school groups, adult groups, and associations attending performances.
• Annual Writing Workshop Annual writing workshop (atelier d'écriture) running throughout the year for individual participants interested in writing practices linked to the theater's programming.
• Play Workshop Workshop sessions (atelier de jeu / atelier théâtre) for individual participants focused on theatrical performance practices.
• In-house Production "Je meurs de ne pas mourir (Les deux vies de Thérèse)" In-house theatrical production premiered as part of the 2026 season and made available for touring to partner venues through the ONDA national diffusion network.
• In-house Production "Ix : variations" In-house theatrical production premiered as part of the 2026 season and made available for touring to partner venues through the ONDA network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two in-house productions (Je meurs de ne pas mourir and Ix : variations) are in active national and international touring circuits across France and beyond, demonstrating the theater's emerging production deleguate role.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rivages communs (Scène nationale de l'Essonne, Théâtre des 13 vents Montpellier, Théâtre Joliette Marseille)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rivages communs Euro-Mediterranean Production and Diffusion Pole was selected by the French Ministry of Culture in 2025 as one of 11 new international poles. Led by Théâtre de la Bastille, it brings together four major French cultural institutions to support the international projection of French artists, cross-residencies ('D'une rive l'autre'), and the circulation of works across the Euro-Mediterranean basin. The pole awards annual 'Horizons' and 'Hospitalités' bursaries and hosts a collaboration platform. Associated artists: Tamara Al Saadi, Betty Tchomanga, Penda Diouf, and Chrystèle Khodr.
• Festival d'Automne à PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Parisian festival of contemporary performing arts. Co-presents and co-produces performances at Théâtre de la Bastille, including 'Six Days in October' and 'The Sea is History'. The festival and theater collaborate on seasonal programming and cross-promotion.
• Le Mouffetard – Centre national de la Marionnette à PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational center for puppetry arts in Paris. Collaborates with Théâtre de la Bastille on programming (e.g., 'Olalaland' family programming alliance) and cross-promotion, linking puppetry with the Bastille's contemporary performance offerings.
• Théâtre 13 (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParisian theater partner with whom Théâtre de la Bastille shares programming, notably the 'Quand on dort on n'a pas faim' production (shared between Théâtre 13 and Théâtre de la Bastille).
• Théâtre de la Cité internationale (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the 'L'art de la fugue' Écho du monde journey (January–February 2026), including cross-preservation of productions such as 'Autothérapie' by Mackenzy Bergile.
• Festival Faits d'hiver (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Paris festival of contemporary dance and performance. Co-presents 'Shabaab' by Samar Haddad King as part of the festival programming at Théâtre de la Bastille.
• Astérios SpectaclescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of contemporary music and performing arts. Partners with Théâtre de la Bastille on concert programming (e.g., 'Bachar Mar-Khalifé joue Christophe') and as co-producer of 'Le convoi' with Astérios Group.
• ONDA – Office national de diffusion artistiquecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational office for artistic diffusion that distributes performing arts productions nationally through its network, supporting the circulation of works produced or co-produced by Théâtre de la Bastille.
• Mairie du 11e arrondissement de ParisminorOthersLocal authority partner for off-site programming and community outreach activities in the 11th arrondissement.
• Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris 3)minorOthersAcademic institution partner for higher education cultural programming, student access schemes, and academic collaboration.
• Accès CultureminorOthersAccessibility-focused NGO partner for inclusive audience development.
• Souffleurs de sensminorOthersVisual accessibility volunteer service partner for blind and partially sighted audiences.
• Ministry of Culture (Direction régionale des affaires culturelles d'Île-de-France) / Ville de Paris / Région Île-de-FrancecoreOthersCore public funding bodies providing recurrent institutional subsidies for operations, programming, and the Rivages communs Euro-Mediterranean pole.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MC93 — Maison de la Culture de Seine-Saint-Denis: Publicly funded cultural venue north of Paris programming contemporary theater, dance, and performance with similar production déléguée ambitions and a comparable two-hall infrastructure.
• Théâtre de la Ville: Parisian contemporary theater venue with similar subsidy model, two-hall programming focus on dance and theater, and comparable target audience of contemporary arts enthusiasts. Directly comparable as a peer venue in the same city and subsidy pool.
• Théâtre des 13 vents — CDN Montpellier: Centre Dramatique National and core partner in the Rivages communs pole. Comparable publicly funded contemporary theater venue with similar curatorial and production ambitions.
• Théâtre National de la Colline: Parisian national theater focused on contemporary dramatic writing, with similar public funding structure, comparable seat capacity, and overlapping contemporary European repertoire. A core peer competing for the same artists and audiences.
• Théâtre de la Cité internationale: Parisian theater partner collaborating on the 'L'art de la fugue' Écho du monde journey. Comparable contemporary venue with international and university-tied programming in the same city.
• Théâtre de Gennevilliers (T2G): Publicly funded CDN focused on contemporary creation and international artists in the Paris region. Comparable two-stage venue with similar production and co-production orientation, and similar audience target.
• Théâtre Joliette — Scène nationale de Marseille: Scène nationale and core partner in the Rivages communs pole. Comparable publicly funded contemporary theater venue with co-production and touring ambitions, serving as a peer and a direct partner in the Euro-Mediterranean network.
• Scène nationale de l'Essonne: Scène nationale and core partner in the Rivages communs pole. Comparable publicly funded contemporary venue with similar programming focus and Euro-Mediterranean orientation.
• Festival d'Automne à Paris: Major Parisian contemporary arts festival and active co-production partner of Théâtre de la Bastille. Comparable in curatorial focus on European and international contemporary creation, though structured as a festival rather than a year-round venue.

Broad incumbents

• Théâtre de l'Odéon: One of France's five national theaters, with significantly larger resources, multiple halls, and a broader mandate including classical and contemporary work. Competes for the same subsidy pool, artists, and audiences but at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ThdelaBastille
• Instagraminstagram.com/theatredelabastille
• Xx.com/thdelabastille

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Bastille Theater