Nicolas-Médard Audinot

Nicolas-Médard Audinot (also Odinot, Oudinot (7 June 1732, Paris – 21 May 1801 ) was a French actor, singer, impresario, and puppeteer.

He first played at the Comédie Italienne. In 1762, he set up a puppeteer theatre at foire Saint-Germain where each character was an imitation of an actor of the Comédie-Italienne. His wood comedians attracted the crowd, and soon Audinot founded the Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique where he substituted children to puppets.

In 1772, he presented grand pantomimes which made his fortune.

He authored Le Tonnelier, an opéra comique presented with success (music by Gossec, Philidor and Trial).