Argent, Théâtre de l'Hôtel d'

Argent, Théâtre de l'Hôtel d', after the Hôtel de Bourgogne the second licensed theatre building in Paris. By the end of the 16th century travelling companies were permitted to play at the Paris fairs, and in 1598 an actor-manager from the French provinces, Pierre Venier, brought a company to the Foire Saint-Germain. From there he went to an improvised theatre in the Hôtel d'Argent in the rue de la Verrerie, where he was allowed to remain for a short time on payment of a tax to the Confrérie de la Passion. It remained in use intermittently for many years, for in 1610 his daughter Marie Venier and her husband are found there, having temporarily left the company at the Hôtel de Bourgogne. The assassination of Henri IV in 1610 caused both troupes to leave Paris, and on their return they all went together to the Hôtel de Bourgogne, while a new troupe under Montdory leased the Hôtel d'Argent. They too later dispersed to other parts of Paris, until in 1634 Montdory opened the Théâtre du Marais.