Prépa’ Théâtre 93

2016
2023
Prépa' Théâtre 93 - New promotion 2022-2023 © Alain Richard
© Sergio Grazia
© Stephanie de Boutray
As part of its Artists in the Community programme, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès accompanies Prépa’Théâtre 93 (formerly known as Master Class 93). This programme promotes equal opportunity and social diversity by offering talented young people the chance to undertake intensive training sessions to prepare for the entrance exams of leading theatre schools in France and the French-speaking world.

Many future actors aspiring to careers in the world of theatre must overcome significant symbolic and economic obstacles, first and foremost by securing a place in recognised drama schools. Since 2015, the Prépa’Théâtre 93 programme has enabled young people aged 18 to 25 to prepare for the entrance exams of leading theatre schools in France and the French-speaking world. Based in Seine-Saint-Denis and firmly committed to promoting social diversity in the arts, the programme recruits its students through an audition process. Some students are selected from the means-tested “Equal Opportunities” programme in secondary schools, while others are drawn from three partner conservatoires in the Seine-Saint-Denis region (Bobigny, Aubervilliers and Pantin) with the support of the non-profit association 1000 Visages.

Consisting of 1,000 hours of training spread over two years (approximately 35 hours per week), the preparatory class brings together intensive stage training with an immersion in the fundamental aspects of the dramatic arts and an introduction to theatrical culture in partnership with Université Paris 8. Participating students have the opportunity to take entrance exams from the end of the first year. The programme also maintains a strong link with contemporary dramatic production: hosted by the MC93 – Maison de la Culture de Seine-Saint-Denis, a performing arts centre in Bobigny – it allows students to learn in a professional artistic environment and to engage in regular exchanges with the centre’s team as well as with visiting companies. Overseen by artists and educators, Prépa’Théâtre 93 encourages collective projects whilst ensuring that the individuality of each student can flourish.

Since 2016, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has accompanied this training programme as part of its long-term partnership with MC93. The Foundation’s Artists in the Community programme seeks to bolster social diversity, combat inequality in the arts and encourage artists’ engagement with the community. Through Prépa’Théâtre, which has been officially recognised by the Ministry of Culture as an artistic training initiative, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès works together with a new generation of artists whose backgrounds and journeys promise to diversify and enrich the French performing arts scene. Amongst the first cohorts of Prépa’Théâtre 93, one-third of students were accepted into leading French drama schools for the following year. In 2020, six pupils gained places, followed by seven out of twelve in 2021 and three in 2022. The 2022-2023 academic year welcomes the eighth Prépa’Théâtre 93 cohort of six boys and six girls hoping to gain a place at prestigious training institutions that will enable them to pursue the artistic careers to which they aspire.

Disciplines
Performing arts
Solidarity
Bobigny
France
This entirely free training programme enables young people aged 18 to 25 to prepare for the entrance exams of leading theatre schools in France and the French-speaking world.
Based in Seine-Saint-Denis, the programme is strongly committed to promoting social diversity.
The Fondation d’entreprise Hermès accompanies this training programme as part of its long-term partnership with MC93.

Information

  • Final performance
    • In 2021, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès accompanies the programme’s sixth intake of twelve students, selected from a total of over ninety applicants for the 2020-2021 year. The seventh annual intake will be recruited in summer 2021 for the coming academic year, with the total number of students depending on the availability of places.

    • In September 2019, twelve new students joined Prépa’Théâtre 93. The final performance of their workshop will take place on 13 and 14 June 2020 at the Maison Triolet-Aragon in Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines as part of the programme marking the centennial of the death of Elsa Triolet.

     

     

  • Further support provided to MC93

    2015-2017 > renovation of the foyer at MC93: support for the works piloting committee and for the design of group seating elements in leather by Johan Brunel (Atelier Jes), laureate of the Prix Émile Hermès 2014.

    2019-2021 > support for labs and workshops organised by French dancer Régine Chopinot for Bobigny residents, in preparation for her forthcoming piece deux zéro deux deux.

See also