Théâtre Populaire de Lorraine

About

The Nord-Est Théâtre (NEST), originally called the Lorraine folk theatre, is the national drama centre of Thionville-Lorraine.

Birth (1963–66): In April 1963, a theatre company composed of professional actors founded by Jacques Kraemer tabled the statutes of a worker cooperative called Théâtre Populaire de Lorraine. At the same time, an association "Friends of the TPL" is created. The TPL presents its first show, Paolo Paoli, d'Arthur Adamov directed by Jacques Kraemer, at the Hotel des Mines in Metz in front of 800 spectators. General Jacques Massu, then military governor of Metz, left the room at the intermission.[ref. necessary] The first three seasons of the TPL, located in Metz, feature 4 or 5 creations per season, with an average of 150 performances, 50,000 spectators affected, 50 cities visited in Lorraine.[Ref. necessary] It is during this period that the TPL manages to obtain its first grants from the General Councils of Lorraine.[ref. necessary]

Towards institutionalization (1966–1968): In 1966, André Steiger co-directed the TPL with Jacques Kraemer. Despite the hostility of the City of Metz, and the...