This short was alloted number one in the Lumière catalog.The Lumière shorts were diverse ,from reports (L'Arrivée d'Un train à la Ciotat) to exoticism ("Défilés de Jeunes Filles") to circus act (this short).
It depicts a juggler's act .This man was a good friend of the Lumière Family.It was made to enhance the juggler's dexterity:with one finger,he makes the plates (check the title)turn .We do not see an audience -if there is any.
Although we first think it takes part in a music hall or in a circus,it's not true: there's a shadow on the wall which proves that the film was shot outdoors.
By the way,the man was also a shadow show artist.