NATIONAL CENTRE FOR STAGE COSTUMES AND SET DESIGN
Centre National du Costume de Scène et de la Scénographie – a world of its own !
Enter the world of stage costume and theatrical history, a unique venue in France and the world ! Discover more than 10,000 theatrical, ballet and operatic costumes from iconic collections like the Comédie-Française and the Opéra de Paris. A wonderful place for visitors of all ages ! Stroll through the exhibition rooms and admire permanent exhibitions, such as the Nureyev Collection which is open all year round, and the succession of temporary exhibitions which have been held since the museum opened in 2006.
The CNCS is housed in « Le Quartier Villars », a former cavalry barracks built at the end of the 18th century on a 4-hectare site beside the river Allier in La Madeleine district of Moulins. A listed building since 1984, it has the status of a Musée de France and its honorary president is the famous couturier, Christian Lacroix. A wonderful cultural and artistic experience !
Themed exhibitions at CNCS
Undress me ! Stage costumes worn by singers
A CNCS exhibition covering 100 years of song featuring some of the most emblematic stage costumes worn by singers : from the glittering dresses of Mistinguett to Renaud’s black leather jacket and bandana, from costumes designed by Jean-Denis Malclès for the Frères Jacques to black outfits worn by Johnny Hallyday, Edith Piaf, Barbara and Alain Bashung, from the little Carven dresses immortalised by Jacqueline François to Josephine Baker’s banana belt, not forgetting the golden outfits of Etienne Daho and Brigitte plus signature designer creations by Jean Paul Gaultier and Frank Sorbier for French and international pop stars. Well, now you’ve seen it all !
Roll up ! Roll up to see the finest circus costumes !
Like a circus parade arriving in a town, this exhibition showcases for the first time magnificent costumes and finery from the greatest circus troupes in the world. Wearing frogged, dolman jackets or leotards, adorned with painted decorations, embroidery and sequins, the ringmaster, white-face clowns, auguste clowns, riders, acrobats, jugglers, animal trainers, trapeze artists and tightrope walkers epitomise the magical art of the circus in whirlwind of light and colour. The CNCS invites visitors to discover the evolution of this spectacular universe from the beginnings of the modern circus in the 18th century to the present-day.
Fairy Tales :
""Sleeping Beauty"", ""Beauty and the Beast"", ""Cinderella"", ""Donkeyskin"", "" Ricky of the Tuft "", ""The Nutcracker"", ""Hansel and Gretel"", ""Alice in Wonderland"", ""The Child and the Spells"", "" The Golden Cockerel "", ""A Midsummer Night’s Dream"", ""The Little Prince"", ""Prince Motordu""… Costume exhibits from ballet, opera, theatre and puppet theatre productions… an enchanting exhibition centred round fifteen fairy tales.
Musicals :
Putting on a Show ! This exhibition traces the history of musicals via numerous emblematic costumes from shows which ran at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris : The Sound of Music, 42nd Street, A Little Night Music, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg... but also costumes from famous New York, London and Paris productions, from Cabaret and Cats to Grease, a recent success at the Théâtre Mogador.
As you are in Moulins, capital of the Bourbonnais, the Duchy of the rich and powerful Bourbon family, take time to explore the art and history town with its historic centre, Jacquemart belfry, Chapel of the Visitation, Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Triptych du Maître de Moulins, and much more.
How to get to CNCS
Centre National du Costume de Scène
Quartier Villars, Route de Montilly, 03000 MOULINS
