Roger Planchon took over in 1957 a theatre in a working-class suburb and staged there Brecht, Molière, Shakespeare and Vinaver, with this wager: to bring to the theatre those who never came, without conceding anything on the works. In 1972, Villeurbanne received the label inherited from Jean Vilar, and Paris ended up making the journey. Three words of profession are carved on his stone, and in this order: director, then author, then actor.
The story
Roger Planchon made the Villeurbanne wager: bring into the theatre an audience that never went, without giving an inch on the texts. In 1957 he took over the Théâtre de la Cité, in a hall in a working-class suburb, and staged Brecht, Molière, Shakespeare, Adamov, Vinaver — a repertoire nobody then thought of as popular.
Born at Saint-Chamond, in the Loire, on 12 September 1931 and raised in the Ardèche, he had founded the Théâtre de La Comédie in Lyon in 1952. In 1972 Villeurbanne was given the Théâtre national populaire title, inherited from Jean Vilar: Paris had ended up coming to look.
He became the leading figure of French theatrical decentralisation — the proof that a demanding theatre can be born somewhere other than Paris, and last. He died on 12 May 2009.
On the stone in Division 22, three trade words in this order: “metteur en scène, auteur, acteur” — director, author, actor. Neither Villeurbanne nor the TNP.
The grave
A stone whose inscription lists his three professions, in this order: “Roger PLANCHON, 1931 – 2009, metteur en scène, auteur, acteur.” — director, author, actor. Nothing of Villeurbanne, nothing of the Théâtre national populaire, whose label he obtained in 1972, nothing of the theatrical decentralisation of which he was the leading figure. Three words of profession for fifty-seven years on the stage.
On site, do not miss
The inscription lists his three professions, in this order: “Roger PLANCHON, 1931-2009, metteur en scène, auteur, acteur” — director, author, actor.
Visitors' questions
Where is Roger Planchon's grave?
In Division 22, chemin du Bassin, first row, not far from Gustave Doré's monument. The inscription lists his three trades, in this order: “Roger PLANCHON, 1931-2009, metteur en scène, auteur, acteur” — director, author, actor.
Gustave DoréWhat is the TNP at Villeurbanne?
The theatre he had run since 1957, which in 1972 was given the title of Théâtre national populaire, inherited from Jean Vilar. A house in a working-class suburb that became one of the country's major stages, and the emblem of theatrical decentralisation.
Silvia MonfortWhom did he direct?
Brecht, Molière, Shakespeare, Adamov and Michel Vinaver — whose Les Coréens he staged in Lyon in 1956. A demanding repertoire, addressed to an audience the theatre was not reaching: that was the whole wager of Villeurbanne.
Michel VinaverWhat did he give French theatre?
Proof that a demanding theatre could be born outside Paris and last: he is the major figure of theatrical decentralisation. He had begun in 1952 with the Théâtre de la Comédie, in Lyon.
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