Le Volcan

What Le Volcan does

Le Volcan, Scène nationale du Havre is a publicly funded national theater venue located in Le Havre, France, operating from a building designed by Oscar Niemeyer that forms part of the city's UNESCO World Heritage-listed modernist center. As a designated "Scène nationale" under the supervision of the French Ministry of Culture, the institution delivers a multi-disciplinary performing arts program spanning theater, dance, circus, music, and family/youth programming across two main performance spaces—the Grande Salle and the 125-seat Petite Salle—plus the Le Fitz bar space. The venue supports an active coproduction ecosystem, partnering with leading French and international companies including Festival d'Avignon, Comédie-Française, Opéra Orchestre Normandie Rouen, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, and Belgian dance-theater company Peeping Tom, while hosting two signature annual festivals: the Ad Hoc Festival (contemporary circus) and Festival Déviations (launched in 2024, dedicated to new forms of live performance).

The institution operates a hybrid revenue model combining public subsidies from DRAC Normandie, the Normandy Region, the Seine-Maritime department, and the City of Le Havre with earned income from ticket sales, subscription formulas (5+, 10+, 15+ spectacles), the €12 Carte Essentielle membership card, technical space rental, and venue programming for touring productions. Ticketing is distributed through the Mapado online platform, physical box office, and telephone reservations, with multi-tiered pricing (categories A/B/C, reduced rates, student and youth discounts) and partnership programs including Carte Atouts Normandie and Pass Culture.

Le Volcan differentiates through comprehensive accessibility services—including audio description, French Sign Language interpretation, magnetic loops, vibrating vests, and Relax sessions—targeting audiences with disabilities, as well as territorial outreach extending to Fécamp through the Territoires program. The institution is led by Director Camille Barnaud and participates in the Réseau des Producteurs Normands Associés (PAN), a regional coproduction network with La Comédie de Caen CDN, Le Centre Dramatique National de Normandie Rouen, Le Préeau CDN, Le Tangram, DSN Dieppe, and Scène nationale 61. Ancillary services include the MAGMA on-site childcare offering, virtual building tours, educational workshops for school groups, and an International Production and Diffusion Pole supporting global touring.

Name

Le Volcan

Legal name

Le Volcan, Scène nationale du Havre

Website

https://levolcan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Volcan is a publicly funded French national theater venue in Le Havre, delivering multi-disciplinary performing arts programming (theater, dance, circus, music) and serving diverse community audiences through accessible, subsidized cultural programming and international coproductions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Theater programming
• Dance performances
• Circus arts
• Concert venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Havre

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual performance tickets sold at various tariff categories (A, B, C) and subscription formulas (5+, 10+, 15+ spectacles). Sales conducted online via Mapado platform and at physical box office.
2. Carte Essentielle Membership: Annual membership card priced at 12€ providing access to discounted ticket prices across all performances and sharing capability (up to 6 places per spectacle).
3. Festival Programming: Revenue generation through specialized festivals including Ad Hoc Festival, Festival Déviations, and other cultural events with dedicated programming and ticket formulas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Le Volcan is a national stage theater (Scène nationale) that presents a year-round season of live performing arts including theater, dance, circus, and music across two halls (Grande Salle and Petite Salle) and the Le Fitz bar space. The venue sells individual tickets, multi-show subscription formulas (5+, 10+, 15+), the annual Carte Essentielle membership, and hosts signature festivals (Ad Hoc, Festival Déviation). Additional offerings include an on-site childcare service (MAGMA), comprehensive accessibility accommodations, technical space rental for touring productions, and off-site territorial programming in Le Havre and Fécamp.

Product overview

Le Volcan, Scène nationale du Havre is a national theater venue operating as a single unified cultural institution offering live performance programming. The venue comprises two main performance spaces (Grande Salle and Petite Salle), the Fitz bar space, and the MAGMA childcare service. Programming spans theater, dance, circus, music, and family/youth shows, organized through thematic pathways (Parcours) and two signature festivals: Ad Hoc Festival (circus arts) and Festival Déviations (experimental forms). Additional services include comprehensive accessibility accommodations, ticketing with subscription formulas, virtual and technical tours, and the Technical Space Rental program for touring productions. The venue also houses an International Production and Diffusion Pole.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Fitz: Bar space operated within the Le Volcan venue
• MAGMA
• Festival Déviations
• Ad Hoc Festival

Products and services

• Le Volcan Main Venue (Grande Salle and Petite Salle) Main theater venue offering live performances (theater, dance, circus, music, family shows) across the Grande Salle for large-scale productions and the Petite Salle (125 seats) for intimate and young audience programming, open to the general public.
• Ad Hoc Festival Annual signature festival at Le Volcan dedicated to contemporary circus arts, featuring performances, workshops, and family-friendly programming, open to the general public.
• Festival Déviation Annual festival launched in 2024 dedicated to new forms of live performance, exploring cross-disciplinary art, innovative dramaturgies, and experimental installations across multiple venues in Le Havre and Fécamp.
• Le Fitz (Espace Bar) Bar space within the venue hosting pre-show events, Préludes du Fitz jazz sessions, and informal musical performances, open to audiences and casual visitors.
• MAGMA (La Garderie Volcanique) On-site childcare service allowing parents to attend performances while their children are supervised at the venue, available during select shows.
• Billetterie (Ticketing and Subscriptions) Online and on-site ticketing service offering single tickets, multi-show subscription formulas (5+, 10+, 15+), and the Carte Essentielle annual membership card for individual audience members.
• Accessibility Services Comprehensive accessibility services for audience members with disabilities, including audio description, French Sign Language (LSF) interpretation, magnetic loops, vibrating vests, Relax performances, and tactile visits.
• Virtual and Guided Building Tours Virtual and bilingual guided tours of the Oscar Niemeyer-designed venue, including technical backstage visits and heritage tours, offered to visitors and groups.
• Technical Space Rental Rental of technical spaces, stages, and dressing rooms to touring companies and productions, with technical specifications, floor plans, and equipment available.
• Rencontres et Conférences Public meetings, lectures, and discussions with artists, including 'Assemblées Généreuses' and 'Aux Arts, Citoyens!' events, open to the general public.
• Pôle international de production et de diffusion International production and diffusion pole supporting creation and co-productions of performing arts works with international partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy consumption reduced by more than 20% between 2022 and 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Festival d'AvignoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe Volcan coproduces works with Festival d'Avignon, including La Distance by Tiago Rodrigues (current director of Festival d'Avignon). Coproduction partnership for contemporary performing arts creation.
• Théâtre Vidy-LausannecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Le spectacle qui écoute enfin la parole des enfants by Lola Giouse / Cie Division de la Joie. Joint production supporting contemporary theater creation.
• Les Musiciens de Saint-JuliencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusical ensemble in residence at Le Volcan, conventionné by Ministère de la Culture – DRAC de Normandie and Région Normandie. Le Volcan is a coproducer of their performances including When the sun goes in.
• Théâtre – SénartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate theater for Airelle Besson, artist whose project was created during residences and presented at Le Volcan.
• La BaZooKacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company conventionnée with Ville du Havre, Région Normandie, and DRAC Normandie. In residence at Le Volcan for Le spectacle qui n'existe pas. Multiple coproduction and residence partnerships.
• Guy CassierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian-Flemish theater director associated artist at Le Volcan. Presented Face à la mère in 2024 and Bérénice in 2025. Known for adaptations of major literary works.
• Opéra Orchestre Normandie RouencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional opera orchestra based in Rouen. Coproducer of Le Vaisseau fantôme, La Traviata, Le Chant de la Terre, and other operatic productions presented at Le Volcan.
• Comédie-FrançaisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious French national theater company. Coproduction of Bérénice directed by Guy Cassiers, featuring the Comédie-Française troupe.
• Peeping TomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian dance-theater company. Coproduction of Diptych presented during Festival Déviations. Known for dreamlike choreographic universes.
• Tiago RodriguescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese theater director and current director of Festival d'Avignon. Coproduction of La Distance, science-fiction theater piece set in 2077.
• Le Bloc OpératoireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater company conventionnée by DRAC AURA, Région AURA, and supported by Ville de Lyon. Coproduction of Monarques about butterfly migration and refugees.
• Le Phare – CCN du Havre NormandiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Choreographic Center based in Le Havre. Co-producer of performances including Oüm by Fouad Boussouf presented at Le Volcan.
• Collectif XYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcrobatic collective associated with Phénix Scène nationale Valenciennes and Chaillot. Coproduction of Le Pas du Monde with extensive residency network.
• Association des sourds du HavreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal deaf community association partnering for LSF (French Sign Language) introductory workshops and cultural accessibility programs.
• Culture RelaxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation specializing in relaxed performance conventions for accessible cultural participation. Partner for Relax session programming.
• UNADEV (Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational union for blind and visually impaired people supporting accessibility actions for visually disabled audiences at Le Volcan.
• Réseau des Producteurs Normands Associés (PAN)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of Normandy producers including Le Volcan, La Comédie de Caen CDN, Le Centre Dramatique National de Normandie Rouen, Le Préau CDN de Normandie-Vire, Le Tangram, DSN Dieppe, and Scène nationale 61. Joint coproduction and distribution of performing arts.
• Théâtre des Bains-DouchesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal partner venue in Le Havre for Festival Déviations programming including Virage by Stadios.
• MuMa Musée d'art moderne André MalrauxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModern art museum in Le Havre hosting Festival Déviations events including Les Baigneurs performance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Théâtre National de Strasbourg: Strasbourg's national theater operates as a higher-tier Centre Dramatique National / Théâtre National with significantly greater budget and headcount, but a similar public-subsidy model, multi-discipline programming, and education-outreach mission.
• Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) - Villeurbanne: TNP is one of France's five national theaters (Théâtre National), larger in scale and budget than Le Volcan, but operating a comparable performing-arts venue and programming model with public subsidies. Useful as a larger-scale benchmark.
• La Comédie-Française: Comédie-Française is France's most prestigious national theater and a current coproduction partner of Le Volcan. While much larger and Paris-based, it is comparable as a publicly funded performing-arts institution producing premier live performance.

Direct peers

• Le Grand T - Théâtre de Loire-Atlantique: Le Grand T is a Scène nationale in Nantes with comparable scale, multi-discipline programming, public funding model, and territorial outreach. It is a strong regional peer for operating model benchmarking.
• Comédie de Caen - CDN de Normandie: Comédie de Caen is a CDN in Normandy and a co-member of the PAN producer network alongside Le Volcan. It shares the regional collaboration model and comparable public funding base, making it a structural peer for producer-network analysis.
• Le Tangram - Scène nationale d'Évreux-Louviers: Le Tangram is another Normandy-based Scène nationale and PAN member. Similar multi-venue programming structure and territorial outreach commitments make it a comparable regional Scène nationale peer.
• Le Phénix - Scène nationale de Valenciennes: Phénix is a Scène nationale in Valenciennes with similar programming breadth, public funding structure, and partnership with Collectif XY (shared peer). It is comparable in scale, mission, and territorial outreach model.
• Théâtre National de Bretagne (TNB): TNB is a Centre Dramatique National / Scène nationale in Rennes with a similar performing-arts venue model, public-subsidy funding base, and multi-genre programming (theater, dance, music). Comparable operating structure to Le Volcan.
• MC2: Maison de la Culture de Grenoble: MC2 Grenoble is a Scène nationale with a similar multi-hall configuration (Grande salle, Petite salle) and comparable programming breadth across theater, dance, music, and circus. Architectural and operational parallels make it a close peer.
• Le Quartz - Brest National Stage: Le Quartz is another Scène nationale in Brest, with a comparable multi-discipline programming mix (theater, dance, music, circus), public-subsidy funding model, and Breconade architectural signature. It is one of the most direct operational and structural comparables to Le Volcan.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LeVolcanLeHavre
• Facebookfacebook.com/LeVolcan76
• Instagraminstagram.com/levolcan_lh
• Xx.com/LeVolcan76
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-volcan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Volcan