- Amphitheatre Anglais
The Amphithéâtre Anglais in
Paris , also known as the Amphithéâtre Astley, was opened in 1782 byPhilip Astley as the first purpose-builtcircus inFrance .Located on a large site in the
Rue du faubourg du Temple , it was originally a round theatre constructed in wood, with two seating levels and lit by 2,000 candles. The theatre was open four months out of the year and featured equestrian performances interspersed with juggling and other acts.It was sold in 1791 during the
French Revolution toAntonio Franconi , who made extensive additions and alterations to the site and renamed it theCirque Olympique .The theatre was destroyed in a fire in 1826.
References
*"Almanach du voyageur à Paris et dans les lieux les plus remarquables du royaume". Paris: Hardouin, 1787. Pg 219. [http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/CadresFenetre?O=NUMM-102840&M=pagination&Y=Image Early description of the theatre- available online at the BNF]
*"Architectonographie des théâtres de Paris, ou Parallèle historique et critique de ces édifices considérés sous le rapport de l'architecture et de la décoration". Paris : impr. de P. Didot l'aîné: Orgiazzi, 1821. Pp 223-226. [http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/Visualiseur?Destination=Gallica&O=NUMM-86611 Extensive description of the theatre and later alterations- available online at the BNF]
*Tristan Remy. "Les Clowns". Paris: Grasset, 2002. [http://www.edition-grasset.fr/chapitres/ch_tristan-remy.htm]External links
* [http://www.cas.muohio.edu/anthromuseum/CircusHistory.htm Circus history timeline from Miami university]
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