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Articles

Volume 33, Number 2 (2012)

Théâtre amateur et théâtre professionnel en Saskatchewan : d’Unithéâtre à La Troupe du Jour

Submitted
May 24, 2013
Published
2012-06-06

Abstract

Founded in 1970 by Ian Nelson, David Edney, and students from the University of Saskatchewan’s French Circle, the Unithéâtre amateur theatre troupe took as its mandate the promotion of French and French culture at the university and community level in Saskatchewan, and quickly became noticed by French and English audiences. Their successes in the amateur theatre world of Saskatchewan led to the creation of a professional French theatre group in 1985, La Troupe du Jour. Its founders, Carmen Gareau, Alphonse Gaudet, and Michel Quirion, were all members of Unithéâtre, and their mission was above all to reflect the Fransaskois reality. As a result of the work carried out by its members, artistic directors, and administrators since its inception, notably by Denis Rouleau and Dany Rousseau, La Troupe du Jour has gone from strength to strength, culminating in the inauguration of its production centre in January 2011. La Troupe has opened its theatre doors to other companies and is forming a relationship between its Fransaskois roots and the work of theatres from elsewhere, be they French or English. The introduction of the Writers’ Circle in 2000 contributed to the creation of a Fransaskois drama repertoire.