Gymnase-Enfantin


The Gymnase-Enfantin or Gymnase des Enfants was an entertainment venue formerly located near the Passage de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. It had a capacity of 200 spectators. In 1840–1841 it was known as the Théâtre des Jeunes-Artistes and thereafter as the Théâtre des Jeunes-Comédiens.

History

Inaugurated in 1829, the Gymnase-Enfantin presented, as the name suggests, shows only played by children, a genre made popular in the 18th century by the Théâtre des Beaujolais. Several artists made there their debut such as Alphonsine or Clarisse Midroy.
In 1839, Auguste de Monval, dit Saint-Hilaire, became managing director. A victim of a fire 30 July 1843 and although very popular with families, the theatre definitively closed down. The troupe was then integrated into that of its rival, the Théâtre Comte. Eventually the building was rebuilt and became the Théâtre Moderne.