ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Within eighteen months of de Gaulle's return to power in October 1958 and the promulgation of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, aMinistere des Affaires Culturelles had been created under Andre Malraux, Planchon's Theatre de la Cite de Villeurbanne had been designated the first Troupe Permanente within a new decentralization policy, and another Centre Dramatique had been created - in the Northern region at last - under Andre Reybaz. The years 1959-60 have been named 'ces annees charnieres Oll la promotion redemarre en province',l and the following decade under Malraux's direction - he was replaced in 1969 by Edmond Michelet - saw one of the most spectacular advances in government-subsidized cultural policies in the history of France.
