The Five Things You Need To Know Before Attending Theatre In Paris

For most theatre lovers, a trip anywhere around the world will involve a night at the theatre. Every country has its own fascinating traditions and trends, and seeing a play or musical can give you a great sense of the local culture. But there are some essentials to keep in mind when you fly across the pond and hop over the West End to visit Paris.

1. Billet Reduc

Before you book your tickets, you should know that many theatres put tickets on a service called billetreduc.com which means "reduced ticket". This can be a great way to save a few euros on your trip, plus you can read reviews of the play by other attendees right on the site!

2. Longer Bows

In France, it is standard for performers to keep coming out at the end of a piece for another round of bows. If there are fewer than three rounds of applause and bows, usually you have just witnessed a really bad show. For exceptional shows, expect to be there a while! Standing ovations are, however, much less common than they are in North America.

3. No Theatre District

Unlike Broadway or The West End, there is not a major street filled with theatres in Paris. But there are theatres everywhere! The magic of Paris is that there are surprises around every corner and behind every door. You will be amazed at the grand theatres hiding behind tiny facades that can be found around the city.

4. Language Doesn't Need to be a Barrier

I strongly encourage you to see shows in languages that you don't speak. If you don't speak French, seeing a show in French will allow you to appreciate all the other art in theatre that we sometimes take for granted. You'll also be surprised at how much you understand from body language, costumes, sets, music, and lighting!

5. Musical Theatre is Not Popular

Not since the 1999 smash hit Notre Dame de Paris has a musical taken Paris by storm. Unlike Broadway and The West End, almost no original musicals are created and celebrated here, and many of the musicals you will find are adaptations of popular American shows like Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and coming soon, Chicago.

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