This paper looks at the spectacular, scenic, and cultural dimensions of the presence in the theatre of aerostatic balloons during the long 19th century. As soon as it was invented by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, the hot air balloon appeared on stage in all the genres, from vaudeville to pantomime, through parades and melodrama. Thanks to the balloon, theatre could entertain by putting into perspective mankind’s pretentions to control the elements, by multiplying variations with theatrical space and its limits, by deploying fascinating sets and putting them in motion with technical innovations, thus giving the public the sensation of travelling, without leaving their seats. This study, encompassing some twenty plays, contributes to the cultural history of the conquest of the skies and shows how playwrights and directors transformed the sky into theatrical space.