Originally, a café-théâtre was a small room situated in a café or a cabaret, or even the café or cabaret itself, where spectacles were put. These spectacles put on in such establishments were mostly unconventional or of limited means, and could range from ordinary theatrical presentations to singing tours, and even improvisational theatre.

The first café-théâtre in Paris was created in 1966 at the Royal Café, boulevard Raspail, by Bernard Da Costa.

Bibliography

• Bernard Da Costa Histoire du Café-Théâtre, éditions Buchet-Chastel 1978.