Press

Here you will find extracts relating to the theatre from some of the publications that fulfilled the functions of the press between 1600 and 1800.

• Affiches, annonces et avis divers de la Basse-Normandie
  This modest local newspaper was founded in 1786 by Le Peltier, a merchant resident in Caen. During the Revolution, it changed hands and name several times, finally coming back into the ownership of its founder in 1800. Its history is set out in Gaston Lavalley, Bibliographie des journaux normands qui se trouvent à la Bibliothèque municipale de Caen (Caen: Louis Jouan, 1910). Originally a weekly (1786-1790), it appeared twice weekly from 1791 to 1795 and contained a column on ‘Spectacles’ more or less consistently, except between 1790 and 1795. The extracts given here provide an insight into the theatrical life of Caen over an eleven-year period. Texts collected and transcribed by Anastasia Sakhnovskaia.

• Les Annales patriotiques et littéraires
  This daily newspaper published in quarto format reported on political and literary matters in France and Europe. It was founded in October 1789 by Jean-Louis Carra and Louis-Sébastien Mercier. In December 1794, a new prospectus appeared, adding a sub-title La Tribune des hommes libres to its name, and it continued to be published until December 1797. The reviews reproduced here were collected and transcribed by Martin Nadeau.

• Le Censeur dramatique
  Le Censeur dramatique ou Journal des principaux théâtres de Paris et des départements was edited by Grimod de la Reynière. It appeared as a weekly (décadaire) in octavo format from 27 August 1797 to 28 June 1798 (10 fructidor an V-10 messidor an VI) (I-IV, n° 1-31). Texts collected and transcribed by Martin Nadeau.

• La Chronique de Paris
  This quarto daily was founded in August 1789. Its sympathies lay with the Girondins and Condorcet's name appeared below the reports on debates at the Assemblée Nationale. It was censured in June 1793 and replaced by the Feuille de salut public. Reviews collected and transcribed by Martin Nadeau.

• La Gazette
  This first French weekly publication was founded in Paris in 1631 by Théophraste Renaudot, conseiller et médecin du roi, intendant général des bureaux d'adresse de France and historiographe du roi. His enterprise attracted the support of Richelieu, which ensured its success. Under Renaudot's editorship, the Gazette contained mainly official communiqués and news from abroad but also devoted space to events at court. It was renamed La Gazette de France in 1762 and continued under that name until 1915. Texts collected and transcribed by Valérie Worth-Stylianou.

• Le Journal de Paris
  The first daily newspaper in the French capital, Le Journal de Paris was founded on 1st January 1777 by Olivier de Corancez, De Romilly, Cadet le Jeune and Dussieux (d'Ussieurs), who was responsible for publicising and reviewing theatre performances between 1777 and 1792. In October 1789, Condorcet, Sieyès, Garat and Cabanis provided financial backing for the paper but the only signature to appear was that of Roederer who took over the management in 1795 together with Corancez and the two of them shared the profits equally until 1798. [Source: Jean Sgard, Dictionnaire des journaux] Reviews collected and transcribed by Martin Nadeau.