Théâtre National de Strasbourg (TNS)
The Théâtre National de Strasbourg (TNS) is the only national theatre located outside Paris. It occupies the former Alsace-Lorraine parliament building on place de la République, in the heart of the Neustadt. Its season focuses on contemporary European work, and the building also houses a drama school.
A former regional parliament
The building was erected between 1888 and 1892 by the architects August Hartel and Skjold Neckelmann to house the regional assembly of Alsace-Lorraine, then part of the German Empire: the Diet, later the Landtag. After 1918 it housed the conservatory. It faces the Palais du Rhin across place de la République and is part of the monumental ensemble of the Neustadt.
A hall rebuilt after the war
Hit by bombing in 1944, the building was rebuilt in the early 1950s. The theatre hall was then designed by Pierre Sonrel with the director Michel Saint-Denis and opened in 1954. The original façades and roofs, as well as the hall, are now protected historic monuments. The complex also houses the École Supérieure d'Art Dramatique, where actors and technicians train.
From the Centre Dramatique de l'Est to national theatre
The TNS succeeded the Centre Dramatique de l'Est, founded in 1946 in Colmar, one of the first milestones of theatre decentralisation in France. It took the name Théâtre National de Strasbourg in October 1968, under Hubert Gignoux, in the era of André Malraux. A state-funded public institution, it was led notably by Stanislas Nordey from 2014 to 2022; the director Caroline Guiela Nguyen took over in 2023.
A season looking to Europe
The TNS presents around fifteen shows a season, mainly contemporary European work. It has four spaces: the Bernard-Marie Koltès and Hubert Gignoux halls on the main site, plus the Studio and the Hall at the Espace Klaus Michael Grüber. A visit to the TNS means discovering today's theatre in a historic setting, a short walk from the République tram stop.
Practical information
Address: 7 Place de la République, 67000 Strasbourg
Frequently asked questions
Where is the TNS?
At 7 place de la République, in the Neustadt, just north of the Grande Île. The République tram stop is close by.
What is special about the Théâtre National de Strasbourg?
It is the only national theatre outside Paris, housed in the former Alsace-Lorraine parliament, and it also trains young actors at its drama school.
How can you see a show?
The programme and ticketing are on the tns.fr website. Check the details of each show, as most are performed in French.
What is there to see around the TNS?
Place de la République and its gardens, the Palais du Rhin directly opposite, then the Neustadt avenues up to the Palais des Fêtes. The opera house on place Broglie is a few minutes' walk away.
Wikimedia Commons — Edwin Lee · Wikimedia Commons — Mathieu Nivelles
