Comédie du Cap

Comédie du Cap was a theater in Cap-Français in Saint-Domingue, active from 1740 to 1793; from 1764 as a public theater. It is regarded as a prototype for the theaters in Saint-Domingue, were theater were immensely popular.

The Comédie du Cap was opened as a private theater at Rue Vaudreuil. In 1764, it became a public institution. The theater had a seat for 1500 people, and a staff of twelve male and eight female actors. It hosted about 2000 plays, operas and concerts each year and public balls twice a weeks, and it was also rented for private functions. Initially closed for non-whites, it opened for all races in 1775, though the seats were segregated: the racial organisation of the theater has been referred to as a representation of the racial segregation of the entire colony. The theater was very popular among all classes and also affordable for most.

The Comédie du Cap was likely destroyed during the Pillage of Cap-Français in June 1793.

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