Sociétaire honoraire
Teachers have found the twenty-three-year old girl rather clumsy and difficult to accommodate in a job. Nevertheless, in 1956, after her graduation exam during which she performed Molière and Courteline, the jury awarded her a double prize, a second prize for her performances from the classical repertoire and a second prize from the contemporary one. Created with mischievous humor, endowed with an unequalled energy, a nice dose of lightness, gales of laughter, and a sort of calm strength, the young actress made her début in comedy.
Catherine Samie joined the Comédie-Française in September 1956 and boarded for a trip that lasted half a century. In a few months, she took part in more than six productions staged by Jean Meyer. She embodied all of Molière’s soubrettes, Dorine, Lisette, Nérine, Marine, Zerbinette,Nicole, Toinette, Jeannette, and Claudine. She was even considered the archetype of a Molière’s soubrette. Besides Molière, she performed in plays by Feydeau, Courteline, Meilhac and Halévy, Labiche, Flers and Caillavet.
Less than five years after she enrolled in the Troupe, Catherine Samie had already played in more than fifty plays ranging from classic comedy to vaudeville. She was appointed in 1962 as its 438th sociétaire.
She could play any role for comedy had taught her generosity in acting, involvement and aloofness, the controlling of effects, the graciousness of a moment and an intense connection with the public. She could play everything and that was what she did. From Marivaux and Montherlant, to Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky, and from Mérimée and Rostand to Strindberg, Euripides and Beckett. Catherine Samie epitomized the Comédie-Française which was at a turning point in its history, one willing for change, for transformation and for the relinquishment of obsolete customs and practices, one that was opening up to the world despite its centuries-old tradition, one that created new links with the public and expected a whole range of different work from the members of its Troupe. She took part in all the new experimentations led by the general administrators Maurice Escande, Pierre Dux, Jean-Pierre Vincent, Jacques Lassalle, Antoine Vitez, Jean-Pierre Miquel, and Marcel Bozonnet. She was the source of great inspiration to the most renowned directors, namely Jacques Charon, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Jorge Lavelli, Otomar Krejka, Klaus-Michael Grüber, Stuart Seide, Bruno Bayen, Jean-Luc Boutté and Éric Vigner. She starred in plays by famous contemporary authors such those written by Fernando Arrabal, Jean Audureau, Samuel Beckett, and Marguerite Duras. In fifty years, she has performed 133 roles.
As of the beginning of 1989, upon Bernard Dhéran’s departure from the Company, Catherine Samie became the Doyen of the Comédie-Française, a title she has kept eighteen years, one of the longest reigns in the history of the House of Molière. In 1990, when Antoine Vitez died, she was the second woman, after Claude Winter, to assume the postion of an acting General Administrator. As she played a role in Jean Audureau’s Félicité, the writer gained access to the company’s Repertoire. She performed in Aimé Césaire’s The Tragedy of King Christophe (La Tragédie du Roi Christophe), and performed Madeleine’s role, in Savannah Bay, for the début of Marguerite Duras at the Salle Richelieu in 2002. Moreover, she played Winnie in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days in 2005.
During fifty years, the big screens have sought her performances, and she thus worked with numerous directors ranging from Julien Duvivier to Josiane Balasko, from Michel Audiard to Claude Lelouch, from Jean-Jacques Annaud to James Ivory, just to name a few.
At the end of 2006, she was ready to leave the House of Molière. The following January, “Jubilé Jubilant,” a traditional big farewell party was held in her honor celebrating the immense actress she was. All the members of the Troupe paid a vibrant tribute, imbued with a love of life and theatre that she had indefatigably witnessed over the years.
by Henrik Ibsen Directed by Éric Ruf
Ase
Grand Palais
by Samuel Beckett Directed by Frederick Wiseman
Winnie
Vx-Colombier
by Samuel Beckett Directed by Frederick Wiseman
Winnie
Vx-Colombier
The Bacchantes by Euripide Directed by André Wilms
le Coryphée
Richelieu
by Thomas Bernhard Directed by Arthur Nauzyciel
Hedwig Schuster
Richelieu
The Winter Tale by William Shakespeare Directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz
le Temps
Studio
by Yacine Kateb Directed by Mohamed Kacimi
Richelieu
by Marguerite Duras Directed by Éric Vigner
Madeleine
Richelieu
by Henrik Ibsen Directed by Jean-Pierre Miquel
Tante Julie
Vx-Colombier
The Rain Dancers by Karin Mainwaring Directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz and Jacques Vincey
Mémé, Dan's Mother
Vx-Colombier
by Vassili Grossman Directed by Frederick Wiseman
Studio
by Molière Directed by Simon Eine
Bélise (alternating)
Richelieu
by Vassili Grossman Directed by Frederick Wiseman
Studio
by George Bernard Shaw Directed by Michel Dubois
Nounou Guinness
Richelieu
The School for Wives by Molière Directed by Éric Vigner
Georgette
Richelieu
The Forced Marriage by Molière Directed by Andrzej Seweryn
Première Égyptienne
Richelieu
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Directed by Alexander Lang
Marguerite
Richelieu
by Pierre Corneille Directed by Jacques Rosner
Laonice
Richelieu
Mother Courage by Bertolt Brecht Directed by Jorge Lavelli
La paysanne
Richelieu
by Molière Directed by Simon Eine
Bélise (alternating)
Richelieu
by Molière Directed by Simon Eine
Bélise (en alternance)
Richelieu
by Pierre Corneille Directed by Jacques Rosner
Laonice
Richelieu
The False Confidences by Marivaux Directed by Jean-Pierre Miquel
Lady Argante
Richelieu
by Ivan Tourgueniev Directed by Andreï Smirnoff
Anna Semionovna Islaïev
Richelieu
The False Confidences by Marivaux Directed by Jean-Pierre Miquel
Lady Argante
Richelieu
by Jean Racine Directed by Anne Delbée
Panope
Richelieu
The Prince of Homburg by Heinrich von Kleist Directed by Alexander Lang
la Dame d'honneur
Richelieu
by Jean Racine Directed by Yannis Kokkos
Jocaste
Richelieu
The Prince of Homburg by Heinrich von Kleist Directed by Alexander Lang
la Dame d'honneur
Richelieu
by Albert Camus Directed by Youssef Chahine
le Vieux Patricien
Richelieu
The Prince of Homburg by Heinrich von Kleist Directed by Alexander Lang
la Dame d'honneur
Odéon
by Fernand Crommelynck Directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz
Elisabeth de Groulingen
Vx-Colombier
The Affected Young Ladies by Molière Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté
Marotte
Richelieu
The Versailles Impromptu by Molière Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté
Miss de Brie
Richelieu
The Affected Young Ladies by Molière Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté
Marotte
Richelieu
The Versailles Impromptu by Molière Directed by Jean-Luc Boutté
Miss de Brie
Richelieu
by Albert Camus Directed by Youssef Chahine
Le Vieux Patricien
Richelieu
by Beaumarchais Directed Antoine Vitez
Marceline
Richelieu
by Albert Camus Directed by Youssef Chahine
le Vieux Patricien
Richelieu
The Father by August Strindberg Directed by Patrice Kerbrat
la Nourrice
Richelieu
The Tragedy of King Christophe by Aimé Césaire Directed by Idrissa Ouédraogo
Madame Christophe
Richelieu
The Tragedy of King Christophe by Aimé Césaire Directed by Idrissa Ouédraogo
Madame Christophe
Richelieu
The Father by August Strindberg Directed by Patrice Kerbrat
la Nourrice
Richelieu
by Beaumarchais Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent
Suzanne
Richelieu
by Beaumarchais Directed by Antoine Vitez
Marceline
Richelieu
by Beaumarchais Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent
Suzanne
Richelieu
by William Shakespeare Directed by Lluis Pasqual
le Vieux Duc
Richelieu
by Beaumarchais Directed by Antoine Vitez
Marceline
Richelieu
by Beaumarchais Directed by Antoine Vitez
Marceline
Richelieu
by Eugène Labiche and Alfred Delacour Directed by Jean-Michel Ribes
Léonida
Richelieu
by Alain-René Lesage Directed by Yves Gasc
Madame Jacob
Richelieu
by Molière Directed by Catherine Hiegel
Bélise
Richelieu
by Molière Directed by Catherine Hiegel
Bélise
Odéon
by Alain-René Lesage Directed by Yves Gasc
Madame Jacob
Richelieu
An Italian Straw Hat by Eugène Labiche and Marc Michel Directed by Bruno Bayen
Clara, modiste
Richelieu
Six personnages en quête d'auteur
by Luigi Pirandello Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent
la Mère
Odéon
by Jean Racine Directed by Klaus-Michaël Grüber
Phénice
Richelieu
Hortense a dit : "je m'en fous !"
by Georges Feydeau Directed by Stuart Seide
Madame Dingue
Richelieu
by Georges Feydeau Directed by Stuart Seide
Mrs de Champrinet
Richelieu
Hortense a dit : "je m'en fous !"
by Georges Feydeau Directed by Stuart Seide
Mrs Dingue
Richelieu
by Georges Feydeau Directed by Stuart Seide
Mrs de Champrinet
Richelieu
by Jean Audureau Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent
Maud
Richelieu
by Jean Racine Directed by Klaus-Michaël Grüber
Phénice
Richelieu
by Nicolaï Erdman Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent
Sérafine Ilinitchna
Odéon
by Jean Audureau Directed by Jean-Pierre Vincent
Maud
Richelieu
by Marivaux Directed by Jean-Pierre Miquel
Mrs Sorbin
Richelieu
by Marivaux Directed by Jean-Pierre Miquel
Mrs Sorbin
Richelieu
Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne
by Witold Gombrowicz Directed by Jacques Rosner
Tante II
Odéon
The Test by Marivaux Directed by Jean-Louis Thamin
Madame Argante
Richelieu
The Girl from Maxim’s by Georges Feydeau Directed by Jean-Paul Roussillon
La Môme Crevette
Richelieu
The Seagull by Anton Tchekhov Directed by Otomar Krejca
Irina Arkadina
Richelieu
Tartuffe - Les Plaisirs de L'Ile...
by Molière Directed by Maurice Béjart
Mrs Pernelle - Mrs de Maintenon
Richelieu
The Test by Marivaux Directed by Jean-Louis Thamin
Madame Argante
Richelieu
by Molière Directed by Jean-Paul Roussillon
Dorine
Richelieu
The Seagull by Anton Tchekhov Directed by Otomar Krejca
Irina Arkadina
Richelieu
by Molière Directed by Jean-Paul Roussillon
Dorine
Richelieu
by Fernando Arrabal Directed by Jorge Lavelli
Pocharde - Asuncion Oca, "Don Juan"
Odéon
Le Jour où Mary Shelley rencontra...
by Eduardo Manet Directed by Yves Gasc
Charlotte Brontë
Odéon
The Miser by Molière Directed by Jean-Paul Roussillon
Frosine
Richelieu
by Alfred de Musset Directed by Simon Eine
Dame Pluche
Richelieu
The Bacchantes by Euripide Directed by Michel Cacoyannis
Agavé
Odéon
Suite aux annonces du 1er janvier 2021, la Comédie-Française ne pourra pas rouvrir ses portes dans les semaines à venir.
Tous les événements programmés dans nos différentes salles sont annulés. La vente des billets pour les représentations ultérieures est par ailleurs suspendue.
En cette nouvelle période de confinement et dans la lignée de notre Web TV La Comédie continue!, nous lançons Comédie d’automne : une programmation en ligne du lundi au samedi, composée d’une émission hebdomadaire d’actualités en direct, de lectures et de créations théâtrales exclusives.
À voir en direct sur Facebook puis en "replay" sur YouTube et en "podcast" sur Soundcloud
À voir en direct sur Facebook puis en "replay" sur YouTube et en "podcast" sur Soundcloud
À voir sur notre site Internet, en replay sur Facebook et YouTube puis en podcast sur Soundcloud
► BAJAZET
de Jean Racine, direction artistique Éric Ruf
SAMEDI 7 NOV à 20h30
► JUSTE LA FIN DU MONDE
de Jean-Luc Lagarce, direction artistique Hervé Pierre
SAMEDI 14 NOV à 20h30
► LES FAUSSES CONFIDENCES
de Marivaux, direction artistique Nicolas Lormeau
SAMEDI 21 NOV à 20h30
► HIPPOLYTE
de Robert Garnier, direction artistique Didier Sandre
SAMEDI 28 NOV à 20h30
► SOIS BELLE ET TAIS-TOI
d'après Delphine Seyrig, direction artistique Françoise Gillard
SAMEDI 5 DÉC à 20h30
► L'ÉCOLE DES FEMMES
de Molière, direction artistique Coraly Zahonero
SAMEDI 12 DÉC à 20h30
► TARTUFFE OU L'IMPOSTEUR
de Molière, direction artistique Éric Ruf
SAMEDI 19 DÉC à 20h30
► LE BOEUF SUR LA TABLE
spectacle musical préparé par Sébastien Pouderoux et Stéphane Varupenne
SAMEDI 26 DÉC à 20h30
► LES CINQ PREMIÈRES MINUTES
La troupe et l’académie de la Comédie-Française sont de nouveau réunies pour une proposition inédite, chaque artiste s’y remémore un moment de théâtre, un moment de grâce auquel il a pu assister.
SAMEDI 16 JAN 2021 à partir de 19h
► LE ROI S'AMUSE
de Victor Hugo direction artistiqueAurélien Hamard-Padis.
SAMEDI 30 JAN 2021 à 20h30
►RUY BLAS
de Victor Hugo direction artistique Nicolas Lormeau
SAMEDI 06 FÉV 2021 à 20h30
►LA CUISINE DES AUTEURS PASSE À TABLE
d’après Honoré de Balzac, Charles Baudelaire, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, Colette, Alexandre Dumas, Marguerite Duras, Théophile Gautier, Victor Hugo, Guy de Maupassant, Marcel Proust, François Rabelais, George Sand...
direction artistique Jérôme Pouly
SAMEDI 13 FÉV 2021 à 20h30
►MITHRIDATE
de Jean Racine direction artistique Éric Ruf et Blandine Masson.
Coproduction France Culture - Comédie-Française.
SAMEDI 20 FÉV 2021 à 20h30
(captation vidéo Maison de la radio et de la musique - Studio 104) sur nos réseaux.
DIMANCHE 21 FÉV 2021 à 20h dans Théâtre & Cie sur France Culture.
►LES ACTEURS DE BONNE FOI
de Marivaux direction artistique Christian Hecq
SAMEDI 27 FÉV 2021 à 20h30
► LE CID
de Corneille direction artistique Denis Podalydès
SAMEDI 06 MAR 2021 à 20h30
► LA MOUETTE
d'Anton Tchekhov direction artistique Coraly Zahonero
SAMEDI 13 MAR 2021 à 20h30
► SIX PERSONNAGES EN QUETE D'AUTEUR
de Luigi Pirandello direction artistique Marina Hands
SAMEDI 20 MAR 2021 à 20h30
► CE QUE J'APPELLE OUBLI
de Laurent Mauvignier, conception et interprétation Denis Podalydès
SAMEDI 27 MAR 2021 à 20h30
► VIVONS HEUREUX EN ATTENDANT LA MORT
de Pierre Desproges, direction artistique et interprétation Alain Lenglet et Christian Gonon
SAMEDI 3 AVR 2021 à 20h30
► LE SYSTÈME RIBADIER
de Georges Feydeau et Maurice Hennequin, direction artistique Gilles David
SAMEDI 10 AVR 2021 à 20h30
► HUIS CLOS
de Jean-Paul Sartre, direction artistique Anne Kessler
SAMEDI 17 AVR 2021 à 20h30
Avec le soutien de Grant Thornton, Grand mécène de la Fondation pour la Comédie-Française
La Comédie-Française a lancé le 11 février 2021 l’Université théâtrale, un espace d’échange en visioconférence entre les étudiants et les professionnels du spectacle vivant.
PLANNING :
► En quoi consiste la direction artistique d'un théâtre national ?
Jeudi 11 février
en présence d'Éric Ruf, administrateur général de la Comédie-Française
►Comment devient-on comédien de la Comédie-Française ?
Jeudi 11 mars
en présence d’Elsa Lepoivre, sociétaire de la Comédie-Française
► Comment crée-t-on un spectacle aujourd’hui ?
Jeudi 25 mars
en présence de Bertrand Schaaff, directeur de la production et de la coordination artistique, et de Baptiste Manier, administrateur de production
► Comment communique-t-on à la Comédie-Française ?
Jeudi 8 avril
en présence d'Anne Marret, secrétaire générale.
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Suite au renforcement du plan Vigipirate, toute personne se présentant avec une valise ou un sac (hors sac à main) se verra interdire l'accès à l'enceinte des trois théâtres de la Comédie-Française.
Pour faciliter les contrôles, merci d'arriver au minimum 30 minutes avant le début des représentations.