The history

Sept. 2002 Approval of the cultural project and functioning of the theatre Le Quai
8 Nov. 2002 Launching of the competition for the future cultural facility of the Front de Maine
Mar. 2003 Architecture-Studio wins the competition
Feb. 2004 Nomination of Emmanuelle Huynh as director of the Centre National de Danse Contemporaine (National Centre of Contemporary Dance)
15 Mar. 2004 The construction permit is delivered
Summer 2004 Installation of the building site and the earthworks
2 Nov. 2004 First stone
May 2005 Creation of the Établissement de Coopération Culturelle du Théâtre le Quai (State-City) [Establishment for Cultural Cooperation of the Theatre le Quai]
Nov. 2005 Nomination of Christopher Crimes as director of the theatre Le Quai
Jan. 2007 Nomination of Frédéric Bélier-Garcia as director of the Centre Dramatique National (National Dramatic Centre)
14 Feb. 2007 Completion of the Building
25 May 2007 First public opening
25 May to 28 June 2007: Inaugural Period: "Windows" allowing the public to discover the different spaces of Le Quai and the numerous artistic disciplines to be presented.
Nov. 2008 Nomination of Christian Mousseau-Fernandez as director of the Centre

1392 first theatrical entertainment on the site of the stock market, near les Halles
1762/1763 first real theatre at the bottom of the square of les Halles, currently the impasse de la Comédie
1795 opening of a performance hall on the place du Ralliement, foreshadowing that which would become the Grand Théâtre
1848 the City of Angers decides to subsidise a permanent troupe
1871 inauguration of the Grand Théâtre
Post-war years time of the cultural decentralisation policy
1968 Jean Guichard installs his company which will become the Théâtre des Pays de Loire
1973 the Théâtre des Pays de Loire is labelled as a Centre Dramatique National (CDN)
Birth of the Association of the Maison de la Culture (House of Culture)
1978 Alwin Nikolais creates the Centre chorégraphique national, the CNDC(National Choreographic Centre)
1986 Claude Yersin heads the new Centre Dramatique National, the NTA (New Theatre of Angers)
1999 the City of Angers confers on the NTA a commission of public service and cultural diffusion
2006 le Quai, directed by Christopher Crimes, becomes the unifying location for the pre-existing cultural structures, notably the NTA and the CNDC

1986 birth of the CDN-NTA within the framework of the cultural decentralisation policy. At its head, a man, Claude Yersin, and a mission: that of a public service theatre whose main priorities are: 1) contemporary creation, welcoming regional companies and the co-production of performances
2) training workshops for professional and newly professional actors in the region
3) the work of initiating and training teachers, students, associations and local service agencies
1993 a State/NTA agreement makes official the twinning of the National Dramatic Centre and around thirty school and university establishments throughout the department
2001 the NTA becomes a national resource centre
2007 the entire NTA team crosses the Maine River to install itself at Le Quai, marking a new step in Angevine cultural history

1978 birth of the CNDC
From its creation, the CNDC develops its mission as a choreographic centre and as a producer and artistic adviser and conducts the work of training choreographic artists. At the same time it engages with the public within the framework of cultural action.
1986 Thanks to a partnership with the New Theatre of Angers, the CNDC enlarges the public for its dance performances
2004 The choreographer Emmanuelle Huynh becomes director of the CNDC with a mission to implement a new pedagogical project for the École supérieure and to reinforce the principal missions of the CNDC. Through its creations, its residencies, and its programming, the CNDC re-establishes itself as a beacon of contempoary dance in Europe.
2005 Creation of the "Essais" training programme which, in parallel with the two-year choreographic artist training programme, introduces future choreographers and writers to the visual arts, the cinema and litterature
2007 new challenge for the CNDC: its installation at le Quai

1999 birth of the Accroche-cœurs or four days dedicated to street arts. Entrusted by the city to the Jo Bithume company for technical and artistic direction.
Each year according to a chosen theme, the city undergoes a transformation in order to welcome theatre companies dedicated to the street arts and musical bands from the four corners of the world.
These festivities, which invovle the Angevine population as well as its principal cultural facilities, attracts a growing public each year. Le Quai is an extension of this opening to street and circus arts: its Forum or "covered street" serves as a location where all audiences can gather

Quai d’Angers