At 6 Rue des Sablons, just a stone’s throw from the centre of Fontainebleau, a hall 74 seats year-round theatre programme. L’Âne Vert Théâtre is neither as large nor as well-funded as the Municipal Theatre, and that is precisely what makes it so enjoyable: you’re close to the stage, and the view is good from any row.
Read the interview with the people behind *L’Âne Vert* : five centuries of history, seventy-four seats, and a season comprising one hundred and ten performances.
An inn dating from 1523 that has been converted into a theatre
The building retains the stones from the old Auberge de l’Âne Vert, founded in 1523, which has seen Boileau, Mansart, Le Nôtre, d’Alembert and the court jester Triboulet pass through its doors. The former stables have been converted into venues dedicated to the performing arts. Few venues in Fontainebleau can boast such a long history without making it a selling point in their brochures.
The Naphralytep theatre company, in residence since 2012
The hall is home to the Naphralytep professional theatre company, based in Fontainebleau since 1998 and in residence at the Âne Vert since 2012. She creates and stages her shows there throughout the year, and regularly takes them to the Avignon Off Festival as well as in other theatres, both in France and abroad. Part of the programme is co-produced with the association Les Oreilles de l’Âne.
The theatre and the Nouveaux Tréteaux: two different things
There is often some confusion about this, and it is worth clearing it up. The theatre is called L’Âne Vert Theatre. The New Tréteaux de l’Âne Vert (NTAV) is a theatre-related organisation which offers drama workshops for adults and children supervised by professional artists, several of whom are also actors with Naphralytep. Booking a show and enrolling a child in a workshop are therefore two separate processes.
What you need to know before you come
The theatre does not have a car park, nor are there any parking spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility. You should plan to park in the centre of Fontainebleau and walk the rest of the way. There is no food available on the premises : to keep the evening going, the restaurants in the town centre are just a few minutes’ walk away. As there are only 74 seats, it’s best to book in advance at 09 83 09 97 39 or by email.
