French national theatre created in 1920 to bring theatre to the general public.
Under the direction of its founder, Firmin Gémier (18691933), the TNP initially offered productions from the other national companies. In 1951 it established a permanent company under Jean Vilar (195163), giving 150 performances a year in and around Paris, charging ticket prices competitive with the movies. By 1959 it was as popular as the Comédie-Française . In 1972, in an effort to decentralize the theatre, the government transferred its title to a subsidized theatre company in Lyon.