Théâtre Charles-Dullin, Italian-style theatre in Chambéry, France
The Theatre Charles-Dullin is an Italian-style theatre building from the 19th century featuring a horseshoe-shaped auditorium with four gallery levels. The interior layout reflects the design traditions that made such theatres fashionable across Europe during that era.
A fire destroyed the original 1824 building in 1864, prompting architects Charles-Bernard Pellegrini and Joseph-Samuel Revel to design a new structure. The rebuilt theatre opened in 1866 and has remained a landmark in Chambéry ever since.
The theatre is named after the Savoyard actor and director Charles Dullin, to whom it has been dedicated since the 20th century. It holds the scène nationale label together with the Espace Malraux. Its painted front-stage curtain, depicting Orpheus's descent into the Underworld, was given by King Charles-Félix and Queen Marie-Christine at the 1824 inauguration and is classified as movable heritage.
The entrance on the south facade opens onto the place du Théâtre, where the rue Croix-d'Or and the rue d'Italie meet. The building stands on the site of the former porte de Montmélian, one of the medieval town gates, so the surrounding streets still follow the old wall line. The theatre shares the scène nationale label with the Espace Malraux.
The painted front curtain was a gift from King Charles Felix and Queen Marie Christine at the theatre's inauguration on 27 July 1824. Painted by Luigi Vacca, the court's official artist, it depicts the myth of Orpheus descending into the Underworld, and it is listed as a protected movable heritage object.
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