The Casino Theatre
Antoine Riboud Theatre
The Casino Theatre is a masterpiece of neoclassical art, built by the architect Jules Clerc.
Adjacent to the Casino, this is also where the stars shine; artists like Tino Rossi, Yves Montand, Édith Piaf and Joséphine Baker have all performed here. Icons such as Ray Charles and Claude François won over their audiences.
Today, a varied programme is offered throughout the year with more contemporary productions: plays, magic shows, comedy and music.
This architectural gem can be booked for exclusive use to host conferences, prize-givings, performances... and can hold up to 280 people.
Evian, spa and entertainment town
Evian was one of the first French spa towns to equip itself with a municipal theatre to cater to the entertainment needs of those coming to take the waters.
Construction began in 1883 under the direction of the architect Jules Clerc (a student of Charles Garnier – Opéra de Paris). It was inaugurated on 1st July 1885. A little marvel with an eclectic style, the interior decor is a mix of all kinds of ornamental features giving a sense of the theatrical and a carnival feel. They bear witness to the taste for exuberant decor of the time. On the ceiling, 4 panels show 4 great countries representing the cosmopolitan clientele who came from throughout Europe to take the waters in Evian.
Originally the theatre was laid out in the following way:
- A central entrance hall on the ground floor, furnished with armchairs, which could be transformed into a ballroom, concert hall or banqueting venue
- On the first floor, the stalls with 300 seats and 14 boxes on the sides
- On the second floor, a gallery with 109 seats and 2 fore-stage boxes.
Today
the ground floor is no longer used. The exterior double staircase, constructed in 1988, leads directly to the stalls.
At the beginning of the century, operatic and dramatic performances and concerts... the entire theatre and musical repertoire, with the exception of grand opera, was on offer at the theatre: Carmen, Mireille, l'Arlésienne, Romeo and Juliet... Then in the post-war years until the 70s, boulevard theatre was performed.
In 2014, the Casino Theatre, named the "Antoine Riboud Theatre" in honour of the founder and chairman of Danone, was classified as a historic monument.
