L'interlope (cabaret)

Originally, “cabaret” designated a modest drinking establishment. It took on the meaning associated with it today thanks to Rodolphe Salis, who, in 1881, made the Chat noir in Montmartre a gathering point for the artistic circles of his time but also a place where different social classes mixed. The cabarets presented eclectic shows in which singers featured strongly, and many great artists made their debuts in these venues.

While today cabaret is synonymous with musical shows, it continues to function as a space of artistic freedom open to all forms.

The Société du Caveau, a Parisian singing society (goguette) created in 1729 as the first establishment of its kind, was frequented by playwrights on the fringes of the “official circuit” of the Comédie-Française. Authors who wrote for the fairground theatres used to imbibe there, in the hope that it would bring inspiration. A famous painting by Jacques Autreau immortalised one of those famous lunches featuring the authors Panard, Piron and Collé at a gathering that was in equal parts festive and creative.

The musical “cabaret” form has enjoyed a long history at the Comédie-Française since the first show of this kind was staged, namely Paris-cabaret (1993 and 1995). Since then, the singing and musical talents of the actors in the troupe have been showcased in the Cabaret des mers (2007), the Cabaret érotique (2008), La Prochaine Fois je vous le chanterai à la Comédie-Française (2010),Chansons des jours avec et chansons des jours sans (2010), Chansons déconseillées (2011), Nos plus belles chansons (2012),Cabaret Boris Vian (2013), Quatre femmes et un piano (2013), Cabaret Brassens (2014), Cabaret Barbara (2014), Cabaret Léo Ferré (2016) and L’Interlope (cabaret) (2016 and 2017).