Théâtre de la Huchette

A theatre which owes its reputation to the Guinness Book of records is not a common thing. However, this little treasure in the 5th arrondissement has been showing two absurdist classic Eugene Ionesco plays – La Cantatrice Chauve (The Bald Soprano) and La Leçon – in original versions without interruption since 1957. Half a century of absurd dialogues between Mr and Mrs Smith, and a world record of longevity for the shows which have played more than 17,000 times – a feat of endurance which was rewarded with an honorary Molière award in 2000. School children and tourists crowd into the tiny street to get to the small, mythical room with fewer than a hundred seats. Apart from Ionesco, La Huchette also put on a third play at 9pm – and this show changes several times throughout the year.