In just a few weeks' time, one of Paris's top event venues will be celebrating the second anniversary of the extensive makeover orchestrated over the last two years by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Some would say it's a non-event, given the rich history of the building, which was inaugurated in 1931 alongside the church of Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet. And yet... the Maison de la Mutualité - the 'Mutu' for those who know it well - had never undergone such an evolution. In fact, it was a minor revolution for the Rue Saint-Victor building, which for the occasion 'sacrificed' its symbolic capacity of 1789 seats on the altar of technology, by equipping itself with a new high-tech control room and equipment guaranteeing the theatre's modularity. The 1,728 comfortable seats can now be retracted under the stage to make it easier to adapt the venue to events of all shapes and sizes.
A must-see for this theatre, which has seen an eclectic line-up over the years, from Léo Ferré to Nicolas Sarkozy, from Charlie Chaplin to Ségolène Royal... Of course, the most striking legacy for the general public is often associated with the history of the left. However, the whole of the French political spectrum took to the stage during the last presidential elections. Today, the General Manager of the Maison de la Mutualité, Alexandre Fougerole, rightfully claims to be "an ecumenical place, a humanist place where everyone feels good". Everyone, including the corporate clientele that GL Events, which has been managing the structure since 2010, intends to attract more and more regularly, capitalising on the history of the Mutu, but not only. The theatre is not the only one to have benefited from the renovation plan: the second floor of the building, formerly occupied by administrative offices, is now entirely dedicated to the world of meetings. Nine modern lounges now surround the patio, forming a Business Area of around 800 m² where restored art deco frescoes sit alongside videoconferencing equipment, all bathed in natural light. GL Events' aim is to open up the "House" to new guests for smaller meetings, by making the most of an all-inclusive, turnkey offer, from technology to catering, managed via a single number coordinated with the spaces at the Palais Brongniart and the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild.
