The City of Brussels or Bruxelles has lots of memories to me, and my family, This was one of the first cities we visited even before moving permanently to France as my dear late wife Martine have brother still living near the border , This made it easy to visit several times on each visit and then some more once living in my belle France, I have many post on the City and country but left out this one and as found me a picture will do this post for the memories of always in my blog! Therefore, let me tell you about the Théâtre Royal du Parc of Brussels !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Théàtre Royal du Parc or Royal Theater of the Park is located on the edge of the Brussels Park, opposite the Federal Parliament. Built in 1782, it first served as an annex to the Théâtre de la Monnaie as the le Parc being develop to the shows presented by young actors. The places in the theater by 1782 included a room reserved for various shows, a coffee and salons where balls were given, It closed in 1807 by the decree of Napoleon I,and reopped in 1814 and was occupied by a British troop for a year, then by a Dutch troop for a few months. As early as 1819, the city of Brussels, owner of the two “royal theaters” took upon the Théâtre Royal du Parc to specialize in Vaudeville. From 1850 to 1854, the park welcomed representations in Dutch, then it specialized in the operetta and the opera-comic, and finally, from 1869, in the comedy plays. During the Great War or WWI, the theater was requisitioned and became the place of entertainment of the German garrison. Returned to a French-speaking theater in 1919, it mainly offered repertoire plays performed by Belgian actors. From 1947 to 1969, the theater welcomed a show of the Comédie-Française each year.
The current facade evokes in its broad outline that which was designed at the time ,it had reserved in the building a place at six shops of silksmen, prints, perfumeries, jewelry stores, hardware stores, fashion and books. Closed during the revolutionary turmoil of 1830 (against the Dutch this time), the royal theater of the park did not reopen until 1831, during the reign of the first king of the Belgians: Léopold Ier. As early as 1869, the comedy seized the royal theater of the park which then conquered a place in sight and the most famous artists led to coming to play there to enhance their careers of the successes collected in Brussels. In 1879, the royal theater of the park took a final genre ; renouncing the operetta and the comic opera, becomes the most literary, the most eclectic and the most followed room in Brussels.
Réjane and Sarah Bernhardt competed in elegance and talent, both embodied Marguerite Gautier with great emotion. We also applaud the theater of the work to the destinies of which presided Lugné Poé. He made us appreciate the father of Strindberg, Pelléas and Mélisande de Maeterlinck. Certainly, the Lady with camellias impressed the queens of the theater. It is soon the Duse that brings us a striking interpretation. We soon create literary Mondays. Réjane, decidedly a regular, opened the 1898 season with Zaza. Coquelin, from Max, Gabrielle Dorziat, Jeanne Granier made the beautiful evenings of Brussels. But it was not until 1899, that the theater was put at the level of the largest stages. The Royal Theater of the Park rivals at times with the major European stages. The French stars of the 19C all came to play it. The Coquelin, Mademoiselle Mars, Réjane, Talmaâ were applauded regularly by the Brussels public. Actress Juliette Drouet, the famous mistress of Victor Hugo, began her career in the theater in 1828. Jacques Offenbach, undisputed master of the operetta, led the Parisian puff troops several times. The great Sarah Bernhardt turned to the director. If the past is very present in this twice centenary place, the royal theater of the park is a living place and witness to its time which is aimed at all generations.
The official Théàtre Royal du Parc : https://www.theatreduparc.be/
The Brussels tourist office on the Théâtre Royal du Parc : https://www.visit.brussels/en/visitors/venue-details.Theatre-Royal-du-Parc.331
There you go folks, a dandy pretty city we enjoy visiting over the years , and always looking forward for more in the future. Do take a look at my posts on the City in my blog. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Théâtre Royal du Parc of Brussels as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 