Lido 2 Paris reopens as 'West End on Champs-Élysées'

Theatre producer and director Jean-Luc Choplin has expressed ambitions to launch the "West End on Champs-Élysées" with the reopening of the Lido de Paris as a venue for musicals later this year. 

Choplin, who previously led the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, is artistic director and president of the venue, which will reopen as Lido 2 Paris.

"The Châtelet was called Broadway abroad (in Paris), the Lido will be West End on Champs-Élysées, and, despite Brexit, I am continuing the great relationship [I have] with artists from the UK," he said. 

The Lido closed this summer after 76 years, with many creatives and dancers from the UK left without work. According to Choplin this was a "necessary" move and the acquisition of the Lido from former company owner Sodexo by Accor saved the iconic venue.

Reportedly accruing millions of euros of debt, the venue was officially purchased by Accor this year. Despite the cabaret-style venue closing – which saw the end of the Bluebell Girls dance troupe – Choplin hopes to programme future seasons with two musicals a year as well as standalone events, concerts and functions. He has also said he wants to employ as many cast members and creatives from the UK as he can.

He said: "The idea is to develop a new musical theatre [venue] in a cabaret format, where we will attract a 50% Parisian audience and [the remaining 50% will comprise] the tourist market, with the idea to provide to all those people, and those who stay in Accor hotels, the possibility to come and see something special."

The venue is to reopen on December 1 with the musical Cabaret. The cast will be made up of UK and West End performers such as Sam Buttery, Lizzy Connolly and Sally Ann Triplett. Cabaret will be directed by Robert Carsen. 

Currently, the venue is undergoing a renovation of its backstage area to improve the dressing rooms, lighting and sound equipment, with a second renovation to take place when Cabaret closes in February next year.

The second stage of works will see the rest of the venue redesigned and redecorated.

Currently, the renovation has a budget of €10 million (£8,700,000), an amount Choplin said could change during the second phase of the update. He hopes to announce a 2023/2024 season in May next year, with the venue reopening as the fully completed Lido 2 Paris in November 2023. 

Having employed many West End performers and creatives while at the Châtelet, Choplin said: "I hope we are able to [again], we are in contact with a lot of English talent and producers."

Choplin aims to use a business model that will appeal to local and international audiences and talent, as he feels this is the key to a "sustainable" venue. 

He also expressed plans to eventually co-produce shows that will open at the Lido 2 Paris, and globally, in theatres in the UK and beyond.