This section of the Odeon theatre in Paris illustrates the boom in theatre construction throughout Europe in the 18th century. Opened in 1782, it is an Italian style theatre, with the stage facing the public, who were seated in the stalls (the ground-floor seats, near the stage) and the balconies. Public theatres multiplied swiftly during the 18th century, and, in Paris alone, they went from two in 1700 to 51 in 1791.
