The Théâtre Molière in Bordeaux

At 33 rue du Temple, between the Jardin Public and the Place Pey-Berland, the Théâtre Molière is Bordeaux's only bistro-theatre. Founded in 1957 by Félix de Rochebrune, taken over in 2019 by Xavier Viton with chef Thierry Wilcox, the 166-seat venue offers a formula no one else does in the city. You dine and watch the show at the same time, at the same table, one metre from the stage.

2026 programme at the Théâtre Molière

The Théâtre Molière banks on laughter and lightness, with a programme tailored to work within the intimacy of a shared meal. Here's what awaits you from January to December 2026.

• January to February 2026: series of light comedies, young talent one-man-shows, guaranteed laughs.
• March to April 2026: French and international humour, classic pieces reworked with a modern twist.
• Fous Rires Festival 2026: a major fixture on Bordeaux's calendar, taking over the entire house for 2-3 weeks. The best names on the French comedy circuit.
• May to June 2026: light musical shows, period farces, cabaret sketches.
• July to August 2026: lighter summer programming, designed for Bordeaux locals staying in the city.
• September to December 2026: return of more ambitious productions, one-woman-shows, winter revivals.

For full details on programming and reservations, the Théâtre Molière's official website has all the information you need. With only 166 seats, Thursday and Friday shows often sell out fast.

The history and architecture of the Théâtre Molière

For six decades, the Théâtre Molière lived as a quiet neighbourhood venue, without the visibility of the Théâtre Femina or the Grand Théâtre. The 2019 takeover changed the venue's trajectory. Xavier Viton, already at the helm of the Théâtre Trianon since 2012 and appointed Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2021, brought dining into the auditorium alongside chef Thierry Wilcox. The format demands meticulous logistics, the kitchen works in silence so that service never drowns out the voices on stage, and dishes must be served before curtain-up.

The venue occupies the ground floor of a dressed-stone building on rue du Temple, typical of Bordeaux's second-half nineteenth-century construction. Inside, the Théâtre Molière plays on the contrast between pared-back bistro furniture and the original ceiling mouldings, preserved during the conversion into a performance space. Tables face the stage, packed close together, recalling Parisian cabarets more than conventional theatres. This layout where the audience dines one metre from the performers exists nowhere else in Bordeaux, and that is precisely what makes the venue's architectural character so distinctive.

Practical information for the Théâtre Molière

The Théâtre Molière seats 166 in an auditorium designed for closeness. There is no bad seat. That's by design. The venue sits at 33 rue du Temple, 33000 Bordeaux, right in the heart of a lively district where restaurants, independent shops and neighbourhood residents converge.

By public transport, tram line B, Pey-Berland stop, is five minutes' walk away. The Saint-Christoly car park is just nearby. For all details (reservations, dinner-show packages, showtimes, special offers), all details are on the Théâtre Molière website which also provides direct contact with the venue.

On dinner-show evenings, rue du Temple takes on a village feel and the Jardin Public offers a late stroll just steps away. It is no coincidence that the period apartments and dressed-stone townhouses of this neighbourhood rank among the most sought-after addresses in Bordeaux. Dreaming of living near the Jardin Public? Your next home may well be among our selection of properties near the Jardin Public or across our full collection of properties for sale in Bordeaux.

Location remains the most important factor in a successful property investment, and on rue du Temple, a stone's throw from the Jardin Public, that of the Théâtre Molière is hard to fault. Our consultants know every building in this sought-after pocket, prized for its village atmosphere in the heart of the city, and guide each project from the initial valuation through to completion. The most exclusive addresses near the Jardin Public await you at BARNES Bordeaux.

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