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Parisian Theatre Named after UAE’s President and Here’s Why

Located just 60km from France’s capital of Paris, The Napoleon III Theatre at Fontainebleau Palace, which was disused for the course of over 150 years, went under a decade long renovation, with thanks to a €10 million donation from Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture & Tourism. With the UAE state’s huge input, the theatre is set to be renamed after Abu Dhabi’s ruler, and will be called, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Theatre.

The palace took 3 years to build, its foundations were laid in 1853, and was complete by 1856, whilst Napoleon’s nephew was in power. Napoleon Bonaparte himself described the building as, “the true home of kings and the house of ages.” The magnificent structure was originally erected to be a place of entertainment as a theatre, but wasn’t utilized more than a handful of times and was eventually abandoned following the fall of Napoleon III in 1870.

With the historical building being disused, much of the original materials, and gilded adornments are still very much in-tact and have been preserved under the renovation for people to enjoy its original form. Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s generous donation to restore the palace, came after he visited France on a state visit in 2007. Having been spellbound by the old building, he immediately offered €10 million to have it restored, as the Fontainebleau Palace will now reopen as Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Theatre, confirming that Abu Dhabi and Paris are closely affiliated.

Speaking about the theatre, Jean Francois Hebert, head of the Fontainebleau Palace, stated, “While it had been forgotten, the theater was in an almost perfect state, and probably the last in Europe to have kept almost all its original machinery, lighting and decor.”

Though the building may have been restored, it may not necessarily be used to host entertainment events, due to its apparent “fragile structure,” according to Hebert. Instead, the newly renovated building will open its doors to visitors who can enjoy a guided tour, and will occasionally host recitals.

The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Theatre is expected to host an official opening, at which Franck Riester, French Culture Minister and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan are to be in attendance.

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