The best sites to watch great plays online for free

Last updated on 11 March 2021

The lockdown period is not yet over for the world of culture and theatre in particular. Fortunately, the curtain is still rising online thanks to great initiatives from big companies or big theaters. Here is a small compilation of sites that offer you to watch great plays online for free. Waiting for … to return to the theater for real. Good shows.

The plays of the Théâtre du Soleil online

A personal crush on the troupe of the Théâtre du Soleil and Ariane Mnouchkine, who send you an invitation to the theatre that cannot be refused. You will be able to watch the films of the greatest pieces born on the side of the Cartoucherie de Vincennes a stone's throw from Paris. From the Molière of the beginnings to the magnificent "Naufragés du fol hope".
Link: The plays of the Théâtre du Soleil

Comedy continues! at the Comédie Française

Let the show continue! seem to say the teams of the Comédie Française. Since the end of March, every day knows its virtual curtain rise. Via a web-television on Youtube, the actors offer different small programs (poetry, … literature). Every weekend, on Saturdays and Sundays, two performances are held at 6.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Link: Comedy continues!

The Avignon Festival online

The largest theatre festival in the world will not take place this year in the City of Popes. At least not on the spot. The organizers are preparing a virtual edition whose contours will be discovered very soon. In the meantime you can go to the festival site and watch in their entirety some great creations filmed in the famous scene of the court of the popes.
Link: Festival of Avignon

Theatre and sofa at the Grand Théâtre de l’Odéon

The great Parisian theater has put the small dishes in the big ones with again large plays online to enjoy for free from home. Don’t miss the extraordinary ‘King Lear’ with the late Michel Piccoli.
Link: Théâtre de l’Odéon

The Café de la Gare for all theatre cafes

Theatre cafes have seen the birth of great actors. The genre had its place on this list. Café de la Gare is a worthy representative. You will find on their website recordings of historical shows of this unique place. The quality of the videos is not stunning but the spirit is there.
Link: The Café de la Gare

Madelen. Historical online plays offered by the INA

The news streaming platform set up by the Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (National Audiovisual Institute) deserves a place on this list. In addition to a beautiful dive into the archives of French television, Madelen offers a theater section in which you will find recordings for television of major plays but also the archives of the famous show "Au théâtre ce soir".
Madelen offers one month free trial. Then you will be charged €2.99 per month for subscribing to the Ali Baba TV cave.
Link: Madelen

If you are a teacher you can also take a tour on the platform Cyrano which offers dozens of great plays online.

So much for this first list, do not hesitate to complete it in the comments.