Cours Simon, or cours d'art dramatique René-Simon is one of the oldest schools for theatre actors in France.
It was founded in 1925 and since 1983 has been based at 14, rue la Vacquerie, in Paris's 11th arrondissement.[1]
A new site in Marseille is due to open in September 2024.[2]
The school was founded in 1925 by René Simon(1898–1971)[3] [4] who was in charge it until 1971. It was then taken over by former pupil Rosine Margat,[5] and since 2010 it has been run by Chantal Brière. René Simon was married to the actress Simone Simon, with who they had a son, television and radio host Fabrice.[6]
Formerly situated in the Invalides in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, in 1983 they moved to the 11th arrondissement close to the Père-Lachaise Cemetery.
The school offers a three-year course to students, who attend fifteen hours a week, preparing them for entrance to the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique.[7]
Students are required to study classical writers such as Aristophanes, Jean Racine, Molière andShakespeare alongside contemporary international playwrights such as Sarah Kane, Edward Bond, Harold Pinter, Dario Fo, Samuel Beckett, Luigi Pirandello, Bertolt Brecht and Anton Chekov.
Informal weekly classes are also offered to children and adults.
The school has a number of former students who went on to have successful careers in stage and screen, including: