Theatre
brings
people together and allows them to imagine, think, and feel building, a catalyst for empathy, creativity, better engage with the complexities of
collectively. Theatre is an act of community debate, and well-being that allows us to our times.
The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) offers incomparable training to theatre artists of all kinds to create work that matters.
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To meet the needs of Canada’s rapidly changing theatre, NTS is: / Asserting its advantage as an independent organization by launching a broad range of new programs around the power of art to inspire understanding and engagement. / Forging new pathways that build a more diverse community at the School and give all Canadians greater access to their National Theatre School on the eve of its 60th anniversary.
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PRIORITY
1
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Invest in incomparable training
NTS’s core training is transformative and uncompromisingly intense, equipping students for lifelong careers in the theatre.
As it continues to invest in its existing professional programs to adapt them to the challenges and opportunities facing the professional milieu, NTS will:
/ Launch an Artistic Leadership Development Program to train the next generation of Artistic Directors. / Welcome Indigenous Artists in Residence and understand the School’s role in the reconciliation process. / Launch a series of Design Residencies for scenographers looking to evolve their practices. / Adapt its pedagogical approaches by: - Developing courses that explore new technologies, encourage entrepreneurship, and propose new socially engaged practices. - Bringing the School’s English and French sections closer together to capitalize on talent and explore the richness of two cultural traditions. - Empowering students to bring people together around their art through the Theatre Engaging Communities program.
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PRIORITY
2
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Create new pathways to the School
To build a larger community around the School, NTS will:
/ Revitalize the Monument-National as a centre for creation, learning, and performance.
NTS will give Canadians greater access to its significant artistic, physical, and human resources, building greater support for the School and reducing dependence on public funding.
/ Create Professional Development opportunities for the theatrical milieu. / Create new programs for young people, private enterprise, and the wider public that can be offered across the country. / Implement a Diversity Action Plan that increases inclusivity across the organization. / Build partnerships with the private sector by leveraging its reputation and expertise. / Encourage greater use of the Bleviss Family Library by students and the public. / Create a new Alumni Network that builds a strong national presence for the School and provides it with ongoing feedback.
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During their time at the School, students:
1.
Focus exclusively on learning their craft and developing their voices as artists.
NTS currently offers nine world-renowned professional training programs. The English and French sections separately offer programs in Acting, Playwriting, Production, and Directing, while Set and Costume Design/Scenographie is offered as an integrated bilingual program.
2.
Benefit from highly individualized training that builds long-lasting professional relationships with recognized artists from around the world.
3. 4. Work in a collaborative atmosphere that brings all theatre disciplines together.
Live and learn in a city and a school that operate in both English and French, and are nourished by the richness of diverse communities from across the nation and beyond.
5.
Engage with the world around them and consider the role and valuable contributions of the artist in society.
These principles are the essence of NTS, and will inspire the development of new programs that will honour the proud tradition of the School.
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In 1970, the School inaugurated the Michel and Suria Saint-Denis Pavilion in the heart of the vibrant Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood. The main campus houses spectacular sun-drenched rehearsal studios, specially equipped classrooms, a lighting laboratory, two black box theatres, and several comfortable student spaces. It is also home to the Bleviss Family Library, the largest bilingual theatre library in Canada with over 75,000 documents in its collection.
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CAMPUSES
MICHEL AND SURIA SAINT-DENIS PAVILION ///
MONUMENT-NATIONAL /// Completed in 1893, the Monument-National is the oldest operating theatre in Canada. A truly unique learning environment for students, it features rehearsal studios, cabaret spaces, and a magnificent 800-seat proscenium stage theatre, complete with state of the art equipment and a professional fly system. Located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, it houses resident artists and theatre companies, and is also used extensively by professional companies and festivals for public performances.
A NATIONAL SCHOOL WITH GLOBAL REACH The School’s influence is felt from coast to coast to coast, and across the globe. Colm Feore /// Acting, 1980
Morwyn Brebner /// Playwriting, 1996 © Luke Fontana
Some of this country’s most important theatre, other live arts, film, and television artists are NTS graduates.
Penny Ritco /// Production, 1971
Eda Holmes /// Directing, 1996
Brendan Healy /// Directing, 2005
Hannah Moscovitch /// Acting, 2001
August Schellenberg /// Acting, 1966
© Dan Lim
© Christian Blais
Cliff Cardinal /// Playwriting, 2015
© Christian Blais
© Ian Brown
© Alejandro Santiago
Jake Epstein /// Acting, 2008
Sandra Oh /// Acting, 1993
Eleni Uranis /// Set & Costume Design, 1986
Allan Hawco /// Acting, 2000
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HISTORY /// “To meet the needs of Canada’s theatre, this country must train its own artists and workers.” With these words, a plan was launched in 1960 for the establishment of the National Theatre School of Canada to prepare actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and production specialists for the professional theatre. Today, NTS offers training programs to over 160 students from across the country and beyond in all aspects of theatre making in both French and English.
5030 Saint-Denis Street Montreal, Quebec, H2J 2L8 514.842.7954 or 1.866.547.7328 info@ent-nts.ca /// ent-nts.ca
Photos by: Maxime Côté, Maxime Boisvert, Martine Doyon
The School is one of the cornerstones of the performing arts sector and has graduated some 2000 artists who have made incalculable contributions to our collective identity.
THE NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA LEADERSHIP /// CEO: Gideon Arthurs Artistic Director of the English Section: Alisa Palmer Artistic Director of the French Section: Frédéric Dubois