Théâtre National de Marseille La Criée

Théâtre National de Marseille La Criée
Name	Théâtre National de Marseille La Criée
City	Marseille
Country	France
Opened	1984

Théâtre National de Marseille La Criée is a prominent French performing arts institution located in Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Founded to serve as a national dramatic centre, the theatre has hosted productions spanning classic drama, contemporary plays, and international collaborations involving companies from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Its profile connects to major cultural networks and festivals in Marseille and beyond, contributing to regional and national stagecraft traditions.

History

The venue evolved from a 19th-century port-market building associated with the Port of Marseille and the urban renewal programmes of the Marseille-Provence Métropole era, receiving institutional recognition linked to the policies of the Ministry of Culture (France), the administration of Jack Lang, and municipal authorities including Gaston Defferre and Jean-Claude Gaudin. During the late 20th century the site was transformed amid initiatives involving the Centre National de la Danse, the Comédie-Française, and artistic movements connected to the Festival d'Avignon and the Biennale de Lyon. Renovations and programming shifts reflected partnerships with provincial theatres such as Théâtre de la Criée (Marseille), touring companies like Comédie de Saint-Étienne, and ensembles associated with directors from the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique and the École nationale supérieure des arts et techniques du théâtre.

Architecture and Facilities

The building retains traces of its original industrial fabric that echo the Vieux-Port (Marseille), the Canebière, and waterfront warehouses restored in parallel with projects by urban planners from the Grand Atelier International du Marseillais and architects influenced by Le Corbusier and the Modernist architecture discourse (referenced through practitioners such as Jean Nouvel and Christian de Portzamparc). Facilities include a main auditorium, a black box space, rehearsal studios, and public foyers designed for multidisciplinary use accommodating companies like Théâtre du Soleil, Théâtre de l'Odéon, and touring troupes from the Comédie-Française. Technical installations meet standards promoted by the Syndicat National des Directeurs et des Entreprises Culturelles and support collaborations with festivals including Festival de Marseille and Rencontres d'Arles-adjacent events.

Repertoire and Programming

La Criée's seasons combine canonical works by playwrights such as Molière, William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, Bertolt Brecht, and Samuel Beckett with contemporary commissions from dramatists like Wajdi Mouawad, Jean-Luc Lagarce, and Linh Dinh as well as international pieces presented by companies from Brazil, Senegal, Algeria, Italy, and Germany. The programming strategy aligns with national policies exemplified by collaborations with the Centre National du Théâtre, exchanges involving the Théâtre National de Strasbourg, and co-productions with the Théâtre de la Ville. Seasonal highlights have included site-specific projects tied to the Vieux-Port (Marseille), cross-disciplinary works with Opéra de Marseille, and experimental performance weeks in partnership with cultural venues like Friche la Belle de Mai and La Criée-adjacent festivals such as the Festival d'Avignon Off.

Artistic Directors and Key Personnel

Artistic leadership at the theatre has encompassed figures rooted in French and international theatre networks including directors with prior appointments at the Théâtre National de Bretagne, the Comédie de Béthune, and the Théâtre National de Nice. Executive and stage management teams have typically included alumni of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, technicians certified via the Syndicat National des Techniciens de Spectacle, and producers who have collaborated with institutions like the Institut Français and the Maison de la Culture (Amiens). Guest artists and resident ensembles have featured choreographers connected to the Centre National de la Danse and playwrights represented by publishers such as Éditions Théâtrales.

Community Engagement and Education

La Criée conducts outreach through workshops, drama education projects, and partnerships with schools and cultural mediators from the Académie de Aix-Marseille, municipal programmes overseen by the Mairie de Marseille, and social initiatives aligned with NGOs active in Marseille such as Cité des Arts de la Rue initiatives and local chapters of the Fondation de France. Educational activities involve collaborations with higher education institutions including the Aix-Marseille Université, vocational training schemes associated with the Pôle emploi spectacle, and intercultural projects connecting North African communities and diasporic networks from Kabylia and Comoros.

Awards and Recognition

The theatre and its productions have received attention from juries and institutions such as the Molière Award, selections at the Festival d'Avignon, and citations by critics from outlets like Le Monde, Libération, and Télérama. Co-productions and artists affiliated with the house have been shortlisted for prizes administered by the Centre National du Livre and the SACD, and invited to international showcases including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Avignon Festival.

Category:Theatres in Marseille