metteurs

Metteurs is the plural form of the French noun metteur, which derives from mettre, meaning to put or place. In practice, metteur is most often found in compound titles rather than as a stand-alone job title. The term appears in historical and specialized contexts, and its use is largely confined to French-language or translated nomenclature. In English-language theatre and publishing discourse, the corresponding roles are usually rendered as director, typesetter, or layout designer.

In theatre and dramatic arts, the common compound is metteur en scène, meaning stage director. A metteur en scène is responsible for the artistic conception and staging of a production, including interpretation, blocking, and coordination with designers and performers. The feminine form metteuse en scène exists in French, and in English-language contexts the role is typically described simply as director.

In publishing and printing, a related term is metteur en page, referring to a page designer or layout editor who assembles text and images into a coherent page composition. This role aligns with modern practices of typesetting and digital layout, though the more widely used English terms are typesetter or layout designer. The feminine form metteuse en page is used in French.

Overall, metteurs denote practitioners who “put” or arrange elements within a defined framework, most commonly in theatre or publishing through established compound titles. In English, these roles are usually described without the French term. See also: metteur en scène, metteuse en scène, metteur en page.