Théâtre de Villefranche

What Théâtre de Villefranche does

Théâtre de Villefranche is a French non-profit performing arts institution founded in 1958 and based in Villefranche-sur-Saône, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It holds the national designation Scène conventionnée d'intérêt national Art & Création, a French government recognition for outstanding regional theatres, and operates with a staff of approximately 14 from its main venue at Place des Arts, supplemented by the Auditorium de Villefranche, an on-site Café du Théâtre, and five off-site Hors les murs venues across the Ouest Rhodanien territory. Its core product is an annual season (currently 2026/2027) presenting over 50 performances across theatre, dance, circus, music, comedy, and family programming, anchored by two dedicated festivals (Festival Nouvelles Voix for emerging artists and Les Univers'elles celebrating women in arts), a young-audience programme, and lunchtime Les Midis du Théâtre performances. Programming incorporates Molière Award-winning productions (Les Gros patinent bien, Bigre, Vincent Dedienne solo shows) and is delivered through partnerships with major institutions including the Opéra de Lyon, Théâtre Nouvelle Génération (CDN de Lyon), Le BLOCK (CCN de Rillieux-la-Pape), CNSMD Lyon, and the Communauté d'agglomération de l'Ouest Rhodanien.

Revenue derives primarily from tiered ticket sales (€15.5–€36 across four seat categories A–D, with reduced, youth, child, and solidarity rates), season subscriptions and the Pass Découverte 4-show bundle, venue rentals, café food and beverage, and annual theatre courses (€160–170/year) plus school-holiday stages (€70–80). Distribution is event-driven via the Legilog online ticketing platform, a physical box office, telephone reservations, and direct community/school outreach. Educational workshops, post-show bord plateau discussions, and rencontre-café events generate ancillary engagement revenue and community stickiness. As a publicly subsidised Scène conventionnée, the institution's operating budget is structurally underpinned by municipal, departmental, regional (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), and national (Ministère de la Culture/DRAC) grants, with ticketing and ancillary revenue providing a partial contribution. Customer segments span families with children, general adult audiences, schools and educators, professional performing-arts companies seeking coproduction or touring venues, and local community associations, making it a cultural anchor for the Villefranche-sur-Saône basin and surrounding Beaujolais territory.

Name

Théâtre de Villefranche

Legal name

Théâtre de Villefranche

Website

https://theatredevillefranche.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Théâtre de Villefranche is a publicly subsidised, government-designated (Scène conventionnée d'intérêt national) performing arts institution in Villefranche-sur-Saône, France, delivering 50+ annual theatre, dance, circus, and music performances across multiple venues for regional general public, family, school, and professional company audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), VIP Hospitality & Client Entertainment (Boxes, Suites, Hosted Experiences) (MPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Theatre programming
• Performing arts venue
• Arts education workshops
• Cultural season programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Villefranche-sur-Saône

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: The primary revenue stream is ticket sales across four seat categories (A through D), with tiered pricing for full price, reduced, youth, child, and solidarity rates. Season subscriptions and the Pass Découverte (4-show bundle) are also offered.
2. Venue rentals and café: The theatre operates a café open to audiences and the public, generating ancillary food and beverage revenue. The venue is also made available for external hires, contributing rental income.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Théâtre de Villefranche is a public performing arts venue presenting an annual season (September–June) of more than 50 live performances across theatre, dance, circus, music, comedy, family, and youth programming. Its core offering combines ticketed mainstage productions at its grande scène and salle Planchon with off-site Hors les murs performances, festivals (Festival Nouvelles Voix, Les Univers'elles), educational workshops, school programmes, and a public café. Distribution is via an external online ticketing platform (legilog.fr), physical box office, and telephone reservations.

Product overview

Théâtre de Villefranche operates as a multi-venue performing arts center offering a diverse portfolio of live performances and cultural programming. The core offering centers on the annual Season (Saison) featuring theater, dance, circus, music, and comedy productions across its main theater, auditorium, and partner venues. Key product lines include two major festivals (Festival Nouvelles Voix and Les Univers'elles), young audience programming, and Les Midis du Théâtre lunchtime performances. The institution also provides educational services including acting workshops and theatrical stages, off-site programming (Hors les Murs), and a café venue. Online ticketing is managed through an external platform (Legilog).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saison 2026/2027 Performing Arts Season Annual ticketed live performing arts season covering theatre, dance, circus, music, comedy, family, and youth productions at the main theatre, auditorium, and partner venues. Designed for general audiences, families, and schools in the Villefranche-sur-Saône region.
• Festival Nouvelles Voix Annual music festival showcasing emerging artists and new voices, typically held in March-April. Open to general audiences as a focused music programming event within the broader season.
• Les Univers'elles Annual festival celebrating women in arts, featuring theatre, dance, and music performances by female artists. Targets general audiences seeking curated programming around female artistic voices.
• Jeune Public (Young Audience) Programming Family and children-focused ticketed performances and educational theatre experiences designed for young audiences. Targets families with children, schools, and educators in the region.
• Les Midis du Théâtre Lunchtime cultural programming featuring concerts and performances with bundled inclusive pricing (sandwich, Beaujolais, coffee). Targets adult audiences seeking short daytime cultural outings.
• Hors les Murs (Off-site Programming) Off-site ticketed performances and cultural outreach bringing theatre to partner venues and rural communities across the Ouest Rhodanien territory. Targets residents of Saint-Forgeux, Cours-la-Ville, Joux, Thizy-les-Bourgs, and Jassans-Riottier who lack easy access to the main theatre.
• Ateliers et Stages (Theatre Workshops and Courses) Annual theatre workshops, acting classes, and intensive holiday courses for adolescents and adults. Annual fees (€160–170) plus membership; week-long school holiday stages at €70–80 per participant. Targets young people and adult learners in the region.
• Le Café du Théâtre On-site theatre café-bar open to the public, serving beverages and food and hosting informal performances, post-show discussions, and rencontre-café gatherings. Open to theatre audiences and walk-in public visitors.
• Online Ticketing Service (Billetterie en ligne) White-labelled external online ticketing service accessible via the theatre website, supporting individual ticket sales, season passes (Pass Découverte), and group bookings across all season programming. Targets individual ticket buyers and group organisers.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Opéra de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpéra de Lyon partnered with Théâtre de Villefranche to present Bazar Circus, a family-oriented music-theatre production performed by the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon, with Dominique Pinon as narrator and Juliette Barbanègre as illustratrice. The production featured classical repertoire (Chostakovitch, Satie, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov, Khatchatourian, Monti) performed live by the orchestra, showcasing a high-profile institutional collaboration.
• Le BLOCK — Centre Chorégraphique National de Rillieux-la-PapecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe BLOCK (CCN de Rillieux-la-Pape) is listed as an associated company of the theatre alongside other artists and companies. The theatre presents multiple productions by Moncef Zebiri / Le BLOCK, including The Get Down (breaking/hip-hop) and Joga Bonito (football meets dance). The relationship involves regular programming of CCN productions and an associated company designation.
• Collectif MisfitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollectif Misfits runs weekly theatre courses at Théâtre de Villefranche, salle Planchon, on Wednesdays. The collaboration includes a week-long intensive course during school holidays with a restitution performance on the grande scène, and a spectator pathway with four selected shows from the programming. The collective also co-creates theatricalised heritage visits for the European Heritage Days.
• Communauté d'agglomération de l'Ouest RhodaniencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key institutional partner supporting the theatre's Hors les murs programme, which places five off-site performances per season in venues across the Ouest Rhodanien territory (Saint-Forgeux, Cours-la-Ville, Thizy-les-Bourgs, and others). The partnership also supports community productions such as Vivante (with the company Bab Asslam and Cie Théâtre de l'Incendie), extending cultural access to rural audiences.
• Théâtre Nouvelle Génération — CDN de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThéâtre Nouvelle Génération (TNG, CDN de Lyon) is a frequent coproduction and programming partner. Odile Grosset-Grange, director of TNG, created Boule de neige and Allez, Ollie… à l'eau! specifically for the theatre's young audience programme. TNG also facilitates a youth theatre atelier at the theatre. The partnership reflects a structured CDN regional cooperation.
• Théâtre de l'Union — CDN du LimousinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThéâtre de l'Union (CDN du Limousin) coproduced La Cerisaie (Aurélie Van Den Daele's production of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard). The CDN leads the production with coréalisation with Théâtre de la Tempête and coproduction support from Théâtre de Villefranche.
• Conservatoire national supérieur musique et danse de Lyon (CNSMD Lyon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNSMD Lyon presents the Jeune Ballet du CNSMD annually at Théâtre de Villefranche, featuring works by four choreographers. The performance programme exposes students to professional-stage production conditions while offering the theatre's audience access to emerging dance talent from France's premier conservatory.
• Librairie des MaraisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrairie des Marais, represented by Bertrand Lamure, co-hosts La Rentrée littéraire with Emmanuelle Della Schiava, selecting and reading excerpts from new books each January. The partnership bridges literary culture and theatre programming and includes joint events such as author signings (Jean-Pierre Siméon following Politique de la beauté).
• Les Concerts de l'AuditoriumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLes Concerts de l'Auditorium collaborates on the Joyeux Samedi family day and programs musical performances at the Place des Arts (kiosque), including Les Bambins Babillent (toddler music sessions) and Bazarophone Mobile by Le Bric à Brac Orchestra, extending the theatre's family programming into outdoor civic space.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Comédie de Saint-Étienne: Centre Dramatique National in Saint-Étienne, another mid-sized CDN in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Comparable in scale, public funding model, and multi-disciplinary programming (theatre, dance, music) at the regional level.
• Théâtre de l'Union — CDN du Limousin: Centre Dramatique National du Limousin and co-producer of La Cerisaie with Théâtre de Villefranche. Both operate as mid-sized CDN-tagged regional theatres focused on touring drama, co-production networks, and audience development outside major capitals.
• Opéra de Lyon: National opera house that partnered with Théâtre de Villefranche to present Bazar Circus with the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon. Both are publicly funded cultural institutions in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region programming across opera, music, and family formats.
• Le BLOCK — Centre Chorégraphique National de Rillieux-la-Pape: National Choreographic Centre in the Lyon metro area, designated as an associated company of Théâtre de Villefranche. Both institutions program dance as a core discipline, share audience geography, and operate the same associated-company touring model.
• Théâtre Nouvelle Génération — CDN de Lyon: Centre Dramatique National in Lyon and a direct co-production and programming partner of Théâtre de Villefranche (TNG director Odile Grosset-Grange created Boule de neige and Allez, Ollie… à l'eau! specifically for the Villefranche young-audience programme). Comparable mid-sized public performing arts institution with shared CDN regional cooperation model.

Broad incumbents

• Les Célestins — Théâtre de Lyon: Major municipal theatre in Lyon and member of the Groupe des 20 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Larger than Villefranche but a peer in the regional public-theatre ecosystem, programming a comparable mix of touring drama, dance, and music.
• Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) — Villeurbanne: Major national theatre in Villeurbanne (Lyon metropolitan area), the most prominent public performing arts venue in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. A much larger-scale operator with overlapping disciplines (theatre, dance) and audience geography, providing the metropolitan counterweight to Villefranche's regional programming.

Emerging players

• Théâtre de l'Incendie: Independent theatre company based in the region that co-produced Vivante with Théâtre de Villefranche. Comparable as a small-to-mid regional company engaging the same Hors les murs / community programming model.

Regional players

• Le Quartz — Brest: Scène nationale de Brest, a multi-venue public performing arts centre in Brittany. Comparable as a French Scène nationale / conventionnée institution programming theatre, dance, circus, and music across a regional catchment, but in a different geography.
• Scènes du Jura — Scène nationale: Scène nationale operating multiple venues in the Jura department. Comparable as a publicly funded multi-venue regional performing arts network with a similar Hors les murs approach to extending reach into smaller communes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-de-villefranche

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Théâtre de Villefranche