Noteworthy venues
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Odéon

Bouffes du Nord 37bis bd de la Chapelle, 10^e tel 01.46.07.34.50, www.bouffesdunord.com. Peter Brook's long-time Paris base, where he occasionally mounts epic productions. The rest of the time the theatre invites renowned international directors and hosts top-notch chamber music recitals. M° La Chapelle.

Cartoucherie rte du Champ-de-Manœuvre, 12^e. This ex-army munitions dump is home to several cutting-edge theatre companies: the Théâtre du Soleil (tel 01.43.74.24.08, www.theatre-du-soleil.fr); the French–Spanish troupe, Théâtre de l'Épée de Bois (tel 01.43.08.39.74); the Théâtre de la Tempête (tel 01.43.28.36.36); the Théâtre du Chaudron (tel 01.43.28.97.04); and the Théâtre de l'Aquarium (tel 01.43.74.99.61). M° Château-de-Vincennes.

Comédie Française 2 rue de Richelieu, 1^er tel 01.44.58.15.15. This venerable national theatre is a longstanding venue for the classics – Molière, Racine, Corneille – as well as Anouilh, Genet and the like. M° Palais-Royal.

Maison des Arts de Créteil pl Salvador-Allende, Créteil tel 01.45.13.19.19, www.maccreteil.com. As well as hosting the International Festival of Women's Films, the Maison des Arts de Créteil also serves as a lively suburban theatre, with a festival of multicultural performances near the beginning of May, known as Festival Exit. M° Créteil-Préfecture.

MC93 1 bd Lénine, Bobigny tel 01.41.60.72.72, www.mc93.com. MC93 succeeds with highly challenging productions, and regularly invites in foreign directors. M° Pablo-Picasso.

Odéon Théâtre de l'Europe (national theatre), 1 pl Paul-Claudel, 6^e tel 01.44.41.36.36, www.theatre-odeon.fr. Closed until autumn 2004 for renovation, this splendid Neoclassical theatre puts on contemporary plays by top directors such as Patrice Chéreau, as well as version originale productions by well-known foreign companies. During May 1968, the theatre was occupied by students and became an open parliament with the backing of its directors, Jean-Louis Barrault (of Baptiste fame in Les Enfants du Paradis) and Madeleine Renaud, one of the great French stage actresses. Promptly sacked by de Gaulle's Minister for Culture, they formed a new company and moved to the disused Gare d'Orsay. Their final years in the Théâtre du Rond-Point gave Paris its best performances of Beckett. M° Odéon.

Opéra Comique pl Boïeldieu, rue Favart tel 01.42.44.45.46. Director Jérôme Savary's diverse and exciting programme blends all forms of stage arts: modern and classical opera, musicals, comedy, dance and pop music. M° Richelieu-Drouot.

Théâtre des Amandiers 7 av Pablo-Picasso, Nanterre, 92 tel 01.46.14.70.00. Renowned as the suburban base for Jean-Paul Vincent's innovative productions. RER Nanterre-Préfecture and theatre shuttle bus.

Théâtre des Artistic-Athévains 45bis rue Richard-Lenoir, 11^e tel 01.43.56.38.32. Small company heavily involved in community and educational theatre. M° Voltaire.

Théâtre de la Bastille 76 rue de la Roquette, 11^e tel 01.43.57.42.14. One of the best places for new work and fringe productions. M° Bastille.

Théâtre de la Colline (national theatre) 15 rue Malte-Brun, 20^e tel 01.44.62.52.52, www.colline.fr. Known for its modern and cutting-edge productions under director Alain Françon. M° Gambetta.

Théâtre de l'Est Parisien 159 av Gambetta, 20^e tel 01.43.64.80.80. Well respected for its experimental work. M° Gambetta.

Théâtre de Gennevilliers Centre Dramatique National, 41 av des Grésillons, Gennevilliers tel 01.41.32.26.26. Several stimulating productions by Bernard Sobel have brought acclaim – and audiences – to this suburban venue in recent years. M° Gabriel-Péri.

Théâtre National de Chaillot (national theatre), Palais de Chaillot, pl du Trocadéro, 16^e tel 01.53.65.30.00, www.theatre-chaillot.fr. Puts on an exciting programme of contemporary dance and theatre, and regularly hosts foreign productions; Deborah Warner was here recently directing Fiona Shaw in Medea. M° Trocadéro.

Théâtre de Nesle 8 rue de Nesle, 6^e tel 01.46.34.61.04. New French work and reworkings of old texts, as well as English and American in the original. M° Odéon.