Comédie-Française

The Comédie-Française or Théâtre Français is the only state theater in France. It is also one of the few to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the Ier arrondissement of Paris.

The best-known playwright associated with the Comédie-Française is Molière. He was considered the patron of French actors; however, he died seven years before the birth of La Maison de Molière, as the Comédie-Française is often styled.

The Comédie-Française was founded by a decree of Louis XIV on 24th August 1680 to merge the only two Parisian acting troupes of the time, the troupe of the Hôtel Guénégaud and that of the Hôtel de Bourgogne. The repertoire at that time consisted of the collection of theatrical works by Molière and Jean Racine, along with a few works by Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron and Jean Rotrou.