Tulle was served by a theater in part of the Abbey of Saint Martin for over sixty years until 1890, but the building had too many disadvantages to continue to be used for performances.

[1] During a meeting of 30 November 1894, the municipal council of Tulle approved construction of a theater on the Quai de la République, on the river Corrèze.

[1] Anatole de Baudot was a believer in the school of rationalist architecture launched by his teacher, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, whose influence he freely acknowledged.

[3] To avoid the risk of fire, De Baudot proposed an innovative structure using the Paul Cottancin's reinforced concrete construction method.

[1] It was decided to convert the building back to its original purpose, with the job assigned to the architects Larrouy, Sicre and Hervé David and the designer Bernard Guillaumot.