From the end of the 18th century, ordinary Parisians not only attended the theatres of the Boulevard du Temple but also went to official theatres like the Comédie-Française. This audience class diversity lasted until 1830 and marked a golden age for theatres in Paris, when devotees could take in several plays in a single day. Many playhouses were built in the city, where people went to be seen as much as to watch the show.
This scene of a crowd rushing to enter one of the theatres on the Boulevard du Temple, emphasises the popularity of these performances and the diversity of social classes (as one can tell from their clothes) represented among the spectators.