Duceppe theatre is a thriving family organization celebrating its half-century of existence this year!
Duceppe, a theatre company founded in 1973, targets the general public with a program based mainly on contemporary and North American repertoire. Celebrating 50 years this year, this family-run organization has managed to reinvent itself while remaining a committed stage reflecting the concerns of Quebec society. The Montreal-based institution was founded after actor Jean Duceppe recognized the elitist nature of the theatre. Jean Duceppe’s vision was to develop a stage that would make the art form accessible to all, by staging plays that reflected the experiences of audiences from modest backgrounds, just like his own. To realize this vision, he created a theatre that would showcase Quebec playwrights and Anglo-Saxon repertoire in in-house translation, an innovative initiative at the time. The first season opened at Théâtre Port-Royal at Place des Arts in Montreal, attracting 152,262 spectators with John Thomas McDonough’s Charbonneau & le Chef. In 1991, a year after the founder’s death, the theatre was renamed Théâtre Jean-Duceppe. Since its beginnings, Duceppe has drawn an audience of 7 million, presenting some 265 plays, including 86 Quebec works, including 57 productions. Since 2018, Amélie Duceppe (HEC 2017), granddaughter of the founder, has assumed the role of general manager, succeeding her mother, Louise Duceppe. Supported by the artistic direction provided by the tandem of Jean-Simon Traversy and David Laurin, Michel Dumont’s successors after 27 years of service, she maintains the theatre’s mission of democratization. The Ton âge = ton prix program, dedicated to the under-35s, as well as a bold and inclusive annual program, testifies to this ongoing commitment. In support of Quebec creative talent, the family-run institution offers writing residencies funded by the Fondation Jean Duceppe. Thanks to its partnership with Écoscéno, the theatre innovates by creating environmentally friendly productions, in line with the aspirations of its founder. These award-winning initiatives include GOLD accreditation from the Sustainable Events Council (Conseil québécois des événements écoresponsables). Duceppe recently won the Grand Prix 2023 from the Conseil des arts de Montréal and the 2023 Cultural Management Award from the Carmelle and Rémi Marcoux Chair in Arts Management at HEC Montréal. Congratulations to Duceppe for his ongoing commitment to delighting and entertaining audiences!
