The building was used as a theatre until 1825, at which time a new, larger theatre was inaugurated on Place de l’Horloge in Avignon. The ancienne comédie had been the first building specifically built in Avignon for theatre performances. It was used from 1734 to 1824. Built to a design by Thomas Lainée, the theatre was directed by Fabre d'Églantine from 1785 to 1787.
It stands on the Place Crillon, which, prior to the construction of the theatre, was known as the Place de l’Oulle, and was then renamed Place de la Comédie. Place Crillon is near the banks of the Rhône and is reached through the rampart gate Porte de l’Oulle.
Up until the ancienne comédie was built, the city of Avignon had no performance venue. Theatre troupes that came through the city performed in rooms where the jeu de paume was played. Following the collapse of the building belonging to painter Nicolas Mignard, a fund was started to provide a theatre for Avignon. The plans were desiged by Thomas Lainée. All that remains of the original 'ancienne comédie' is the façade, registered as a historical monument on 5 November 1931.
When the 'jeu de paume' theatre, which was on Rue de la Bouquerie, collapsed in 1732, the leading families in Avignon grouped together to create a fund to build a true theatre. These families included the Puget-Barbentane, the Suarès d’Aulan, the Brantes, the Marquis de Costebelle and the Duke de Crillon. Foreign nobles such as the Duke d’Ormond and Lord Inverness were also allowed to join the effort. The company they created purchased a jeu de paume located on Place de l’Oulle and built the theatre in its stead.
The construction was assigned to the Parisian architect Thomas Lainée who declared, on 23 June 1734 that the work was completed in compliance with his design. His contemporaries found that the theatre was sumptuous and held luxurious box seats for the Vice-légat, the Auditeur général, the Primacier of the University, the Reverend Inquisitor, the Viguier and the Consuls. The Duke of Ormond wrote at the time to one of his friends: 'To make the city more pleasant, I contributed to the constructino of a theatre which is most assuredly the most beautiful in all of France. Country theatre troupes are excited to come perform here and we have Theatre during more than six months of the year'.
French and Italian plays were performed. The theatre operated up until 1824, when it was decided to build a new theatre on the Place de l’Horloge: the Avignon Opera.
Today the 'ancienne comédie' is private property.
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