Téat Plein Air: A Monumental Open-Air Stage in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains

When Michel Debré was elected as a deputy of Réunion in 1963, he envisioned creating a high-quality cultural facility for the island. He proposed the idea of an open-air theatre to the Minister of Culture, André Malraux, requesting the means to build it in a tourist area near Saint-Denis with low rainfall. The project was accepted, and in December 1964, the Conseil général took the decision to realize an open-air theatre in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains to offer the people of Réunion quality performances and inspire a taste for theatre in the youth.

To bring the project to life, André Malraux worked with René Allio to find a competent team. Shortly after, the minister confirmed the candidacy of Jean Tribel, who had met Malraux in Amiens. Tribel accompanied Debré to the site, where he discovered a magnificent location on a ravine slope with an exceptional panorama of the Indian Ocean. The project was then entrusted to the architect Gilbert Royer, who had lived in Réunion since 1955 and was known for his neo-brutalist architecture and extensive knowledge of concrete. He worked with Edwin Quessy, a site manager for SOGEFOM, to complete the construction.

Conceived by Jean Tribel and realized by Gilbert Royer, Téat Plein Air was first labeled as remarkable heritage of the 20th century and was inscribed in the registry of historical monuments in 2012. It debuted on September 5, 1970, with the first Indian Ocean festival. This event featured folkloric groups from the Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion, and was held under the direction of Michel Debré.

Today, the theatre remains an emblematic monument. The garden, which once hosted endemic species like bois d'Arnette, underwent a complete transformation between 2020 and 2022 to recover its original wild and natural spirit. Situated on a ridge of volcanic rocks, the theatre overlooks the seaside resort of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, offering plunging views of the ocean and the surrounding landscapes. Its multi-disciplinary programming is predominantly musical, and it is frequently rented by private producers and schools for various galas.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons