Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui

Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui
Name	Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui
City	Montreal
Country	Canada
Opened	1968
Capacity	218

Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui is a professional French-language theatre company based in Montreal, Quebec, dedicated to contemporary Canadian plays and playwrights. Founded in 1968, the company has been a nexus for Quebecois, Canadian, and international dramatic writing, collaborating with artists from institutions such as National Theatre School of Canada, Université du Québec à Montréal, and Concordia University. The company has presented premieres alongside festivals including the Festival TransAmériques, Just for Laughs, and the Fringe Festival (Edinburgh) in partnerships with cultural venues like the Centaur Theatre and the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde.

History

Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui was established in the context of the Quiet Revolution and cultural renewal that involved organizations such as Société Radio-Canada, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and municipal initiatives from City of Montreal. Early seasons featured collaborations with playwrights affiliated with National Film Board of Canada artists and initiatives linked to the Expo 67 legacy. Over decades the company interacted with touring companies including Stratford Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and international troupes from Comédie-Française, Teatro alla Scala projects, while engaging funding bodies like the Canada Council for the Arts, Heritage Canada, and provincial ministries. The venue evolved alongside shifts in Quebec cultural policy influenced by events such as the October Crisis and legislative frameworks like the Charter of the French Language.

Mission and Programming

The theatre’s mission emphasizes new work by playwrights associated with Michel Tremblay, Wajdi Mouawad, Marie Laberge, Guillaume Corbeil, and emerging writers from cohorts linked to Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Association des Compagnies de Théâtre Professionnel du Québec. Seasonal programming blends premieres, co-productions with institutions such as the Canada Council for the Arts, and festival presentations at venues including Place des Arts and the Banff Centre. The company maintains partnerships with media outlets like La Presse, Le Devoir, and broadcasters such as Télé-Québec to amplify artistic output, and curates dramaturgical development alongside residencies funded by Conseil des arts de Montréal.

Notable Productions and Premieres

Notable premieres have included works by figures linked with Michel Marc Bouchard, Denys Arcand collaborators, and translations of international writers like Samuel Beckett, Bertolt Brecht, Anton Chekhov, and Sarah Kane adapted by Quebec practitioners. Co-productions have toured to festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Festival d'Avignon, and the Shaw Festival, and have been staged in exchange programs with companies like La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and The Wooster Group. The theatre has premiered plays that later received awards from organizations including the Governor General's Awards and recognitions at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

Artistic Directors and Key Personnel

Artistic leadership has included directors and administrators who trained at institutions such as National Theatre School of Canada, Concordia University, and Université Laval, and who have worked in collaboration with artists from Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian Stage Company, and international directors like Peter Brook. Resident dramaturgs, set designers, and composers have had affiliations with Centres d'artistes, Banff Centre, and orchestras such as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for original scoring, while production teams included stage managers from unions like Canadian Actors' Equity Association.

Venue and Facilities

Located in Montreal, the theatre shares the cultural landscape with landmarks such as Place des Arts, Old Montreal, and nearby institutions like the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal and McGill University. Facility upgrades over the years have been supported by grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and municipal heritage programs, enabling technical collaborations with companies such as Lighting Design Group and partnerships for accessibility with Canadian National Institute for the Blind initiatives. Audience capacity and stage resources allow exchanges with touring seasons from the American Repertory Theater and visiting ensembles from Royal Shakespeare Company.

Community Engagement and Education

The company runs outreach and education programs developed with partners like the National Theatre School of Canada, Playwrights Guild of Canada, Young People's Theatre, and local schools in the Plateau-Mont-Royal and Sud-Ouest boroughs. Workshops, youth programming, and playwriting labs have been co-funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and municipal cultural offices, while community projects have involved collaborations with organizations such as Centres Jeunesse, Maison Théâtre, and immigrant arts groups tied to multiculturalism initiatives.

Awards and Recognition

Productions and artists associated with the theatre have received nominations and awards from national and provincial bodies including the Governor General's Awards, Prix du Québec, Dora Mavor Moore Awards, and acknowledgments from media like Le Devoir and La Presse. The company’s contributions to contemporary theatre have been highlighted in retrospectives at venues such as the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and academic studies at institutions including Université de Montréal and Université Laval.

Category:Theatres in Montreal