Glamour, feathers and a cast of thousands (almost). The Lido on the Champs Elysees may be Paris’ most glamorous cabaret, and we got to take a backstage tour…

all photos : jasonw


I never do tours. I don’t really like being with a herd of people being told a whole list of ‘interesting facts’ that I will never remember. I was dubious then when the Paris tourist office invited me to do a backstage tour of the Lido, especially as it was at the indecent time of 9am. I’d never been to the Lido though and it sounded like something a little out of the ordinary, so I confirmed the invitation and made the effort.

As soon as you enter it is apparent that the Lido is a step above any other Parisian cabaret. The huge sparkling candelabras and blue velvet exude class. After a brief welcome, our little group was led into the auditorium by our guide. He took his job very seriously, was dressed for the occasion, and obviously loves the place. It’s nice to be taken on a visit with someone who seems to be enjoying his/herself, rather than a tired guide who is worn out from saying the same old phrases week after week, year after year…

I was expecting the room to look quite grimy, as often these types of places do when the lights go up. Not so here. Everything was spotlessly clean both front and back of house. It was odd seeing the room empty though…

Our guide told us about the history of the place. How it had originally been a little further down the Champs Elysees, how it became an indoor swimming pool and beach (hence the name). How the enormous and sudden success was short-lived, forcing the owners to start the cabaret. How the Nazis commandeered the place just after the invasion of Paris in order to keep the troops amused (even the Allies kept it a year after the Liberation, for the same reasons!). The guide then went on to tell us about the technical side of the show. Far from being boring, it was quite intriguing…

For instance, the chandeliers near the tables in the auditorium descend before the show in order to give everyone the best view possible. Also, the front area is on the same level of the stage during dinner, but lower imperceptibly when the show starts so that everyone can see. Those sitting at the front have the impression that the stage is rising, when in fact they are going down! Moving behind stage, we saw that the many different sets are lowered from a space almost three stories high above the stage, and that there is also a large space under the stage where many sets are also hidden…


For instance, one scene of the show includes a huge Indian temple which is cleverly folded up in an area below the stage in order to take up as little room as possible. There is also – unbelievably – a proper ice-rink hidden down there was rises up with the skaters already on it! Later on during the tour we saw it close up…

Backstage we were told about the hundreds of costumes, millions of feathers used, the huge team in Italy that produced them all, and how there is a team of seamstresses on hand to repair and upkeep everything…


The costumes and sets for each show cost tens of millions of euros, and the show makes no money for its first four years. As the how changes every five years or so, this leaves around one year for a profit to be made.

Our tour finished with a quick look at the tiny room for the live musicians (aided by backing tapes) and a room that can be privatised for business functions or other events. I really enjoyed the lively visit. It made a great change from the standard tourist options, and I would recommend it!


If you want a sneak peak behind the glamour of the Lido, ask at the reception of one of our hotels. The visits are run by Accès Coulisses and are open to individuals every Friday at 4pm for 20 euros, or other days and times for groups (ask us to book for you).