It is one of the five national theatres dedicated to drama which are entirely supported by the French Ministry of Culture.

In January 2009, stage director, Stéphane Braunschweig became an associate artist at the theatre and assumed the directorship from 2010 to 2016.

The Théâtre national de la Colline was founded in 1951 by The Guild, a company headed by Guy Rétoré.

The theatre is the work of architects Valentine Fabre and John Perrottet, assisted by Alberto Cattani.

They had to harmonize with the design of the city theatre and the great hall of the Théâtre national de Chaillot.