Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord

This theatre near the Gare du Nord opened in 1876 but is best known for its revival under director Peter Brook, who reopened it in the 1970s with its worn walls left deliberately unrestored. That faded, atmospheric interior became internationally influential, prized for its raw acoustics and stripped-back staging. The horseshoe auditorium is small and steeply raked, encouraging intimacy between performers and audience. Its peeling-plaster look has been widely imitated in experimental venues.