Duceppe, More than a Theatre

Pointe-à-Callière is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Théâtre Jean Duceppe!

Through fifteen authentic objects exhibited in a commemorative display case, delve into the history of this iconic institution on the Montréal and Québec cultural scene. Costumes, set models, props, and posters are complemented by documentary videos taking viewers through 50 years of sharing and emotions.

Created in 1973 by actor Jean Duceppe, the eponymous theatre company was already driven by a desire to break away from the elitist image associated with theatre at the time. The tone was set with the presentation of Arthur Miller’s play La mort d’un commis voyageur (Death of a Salesman) (1973), which still today remains one of the most striking pieces in the Duceppe repertoire. In presenting plays that reflected Québec’s reality, and that were in keeping with the values of the day, the company was able to appeal to a wide audience.

Led by successive artistic directors Jean Duceppe (1973 - 1990), Michel Dumont (1991 - 2017), and finally David Laurin and Jean-Simon Traversy (2017 to the present day), the theatre, located in the heart of Montréal’s Quartier des spectacles, has, over the years, developed a unique, bold, and incredibly relevant repertoire! One need only think of the resounding success of the play Héritage (A Raisin in the Sun) (2019), by playwright Lorraine Hansberry, which tells the story of an African American family in 1950s Chicago. Or the more recent hit, Mama (2022), by author Nathalie Doummar, which tackles the subject of family with a largely female cast of Arab origin.

Today, Compagnie Jean-Duceppe, which has established itself as a core institution on Québec’s theatrical landscape, continues to reach out to us and move us. Don’t miss seeing this tribute!