This place will have seen things. After a hotel, shops, and even a nightclub, the church and the convent of the Franciscans now welcome one of the three stages of the National Theater of Nice (TNN). This place, now called the Théâtre des Franciscains, is located in the heart of Old Nice on Place Saint-François. It was inaugurated this Thursday, April 7 by Mayor Christian Estrosi and TNN director Muriel Mayette-Holtz in front of around 200 people from the cultural community.
The stage in the heart of the nave
The stones laid by the Franciscans have been preserved and brought to light. The 600 square meter stage is spread over the entire surface of the church, 48 meters long. Tiers are adjustable and allow the theater to have a gauge ranging from 240 to 340 seats depending on the configuration chosen (frontal, bi-frontal, tri-frontal or quadri-frontal configuration.)
– Julie Munch
To install modern lighting, the structure of the church was raised by a few centimeters. The ceiling is at 14 meters in height.
– Julie Munch
The adjoining building of “L’Aigle d’or” now houses the administrative offices of the TNN, a rehearsal room, and accommodation for the artists.
Seven centuries of history
But what makes the singularity of this place discovered ten years ago by the archeology department of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis, is its history. It is the oldest building still standing in Old Nice. It all started in the 13th century when the brothers of Saint Francis of Assisi established the church and convent. After the Revolution, the building was then sold to private owners who transformed it into hotel and in housing to make their investments profitable. Archaeologists have also found traces of ancient shops : a fish shop and an icehouse.
– Julie Munch
In the 1970s, this place also housed garbage collection services Where CGT offices and even a nightclub. The disco ball has been taken down and is now stored by the town hall services to make room for the actors. The first official performance will take place in the Théâtre des Franciscains on April 26 with the show “Darwin’s Smile” designed by Italian-American actress Isabella Rossellini and directed by TNN director Muriel Mayette-Holtz.
Three scenes in all
The story therefore continues now with this theater which is one of the three stages that will make up the TNN in the coming months and years. At the end of May, the second room will be “La Cuisine” to the west of Nice near the Palais Nikaïa. This is’an ephemeral structure with a capacity of 600 places.
Then will come the “Iconic” project of 500 spaces between the Liberation district and Place Masséna, very close to the station, in the “Diamond” building, designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind. Then in 2026, the Palace of Arts and Culture will house 800 seats theatre and 1,150 seats for the auditorium, against the backdrop of the ambition for the mayor of Nice to make his city the European capital of culture.