Cocktail de Nuit: The Journey of a Legendary Variety Show Since 1989

By Lila Roberts - Entertainment Editor Updated August 1, 2026

French variety and touring ensemble Cocktail de Nuit continues its summer tour across multiple departments in France, maintaining a large-scale live production model that employs approximately thirty people, according to founder Philippe Therme. Established in 1989 by Philippe and Marie Therme, the enterprise has grown from a six-person formation into a full-scale touring operation featuring live musicians, vocalists, technicians, and dedicated support staff.

Origins and Evolution of the Touring Ensemble

According to Philippe Therme, the group originated in 1989 following his tenure with various musical formations, including Les Méridiens and the orchestra led by Éric Perrier. Prompted by his wife Marie to establish an independent production, Therme launched the first tour with six performers on stage. Over the decades, the operation expanded structurally and technically. The modern setup includes a thirty-person team comprising six musicians, six singers—split evenly between three men and three women—eight technicians, a costumer, a choreographer, a photographer, a videographer, and administrative personnel.

Repertoire and Musical Direction

The musical program avoids fixed regional requests, relying instead on artistic direction shaped by Therme’s background and popular music standards. According to Therme, early influences centered on rock bands like Queen and The Police, later expanding to incorporate 1980s hits and subsequent decades. As a trumpet player, Therme favors arrangements incorporating brass sections. The setlist adapts to current musical trends and cultural anniversaries, incorporating dedicated performance segments for international icons such as Céline Dion and Michael Jackson.

Audience Demographics and Summer Tour Schedule

Performances primarily take place during the summer months across French municipalities, frequently structured as open-access free public concerts spanning roughly fifteen departments, from Vendée to Lorraine and across the Grand Sud. According to event organizers, the audience spans multiple generations, drawing family groups to participatory vocal performances rather than standard DJ sets. Confirmed summer tour dates in the Hérault department include appearances in Mauguio on August 8, Saint-Jean-de-Fos on August 12, Montblanc on August 22, Florensac on August 24, and Montagnac on September 5.

Private Engagements and Future Projects

Outside the summer municipal festival circuit—running from September through May—the ensemble executes private and corporate events, including weddings, business functions, regional Miss France elections, and institutional productions. Looking toward the 2026 and 2027 seasons, production management is developing an expanded theatrical concept aimed at traditional indoor amphitheaters and larger performance halls to reach audiences beyond the seasonal outdoor touring schedule.