Le théâtre illuminé

Did they perform Aristophanes’ plays in ancient Greece at night or during the day? When did the idea of placing candles and lamps on the stages arise? Why are classical plays divided into acts? What was the atmosphere in the theaters until the French actors required the removal of the overly odorous candles? When did electric lighting become established on theater stages?

All the answers to these questions and many others are found in these narratives involving both real and fictional characters. This is the first time a work, which does not aim to be a technical treatise, tells the story and evolution of lighting in theater. It showcases the extraordinary contribution of electricity and the transformations it has brought about. Indeed, it has revolutionized staging, both in sets and costumes, and even in the actors’ performances. The theaters of the Parisian boulevards were among the first to benefit from it.

Bertrand Galimard Flavigny is a journalist and writer. He writes columns on the art market in La Gazette Drouot and Les Petites Affiches. He is the author of, among other works, a History of the Order of Malta, The Legion of Honor, Letters from Venice, and also The Eponyms of the Automobile (Cibié publisher).