Jullien introduced the term not long after a staging of his play The Serenade, as noted by Wayne S. Turney in his essay "Notes on Naturalism in the Theatre": The Serenade was introduced by the Théâtre Libre in 1887.
Jullien introducerede udtrykket kort tid en opførelse af hans stykke The Serenade, hvilket Wayne S. Turney omtalte i sin essay, "Notes on Naturalism in the Theatre": "The Serenade blev introduceret af Théâtre Libre i 1887.