Théâtre Prospero

Théâtre Prospero is a theatre venue and production organization on the Montréal performing-arts scene, located at 1371, rue Ontario est in Montréal, Québec, Canada. It is operated by the Groupe de la Veillée, the company that acquired and converted the building, and it functions both as a presenter of its own creations and as a host for invited theatre companies. The venue contains two modular performance halls: a main hall with a maximum capacity of about 180 seats and a smaller "salle intime" that can accommodate roughly 45 people. The site has theatrical roots reaching back to 1911, when the Théâtre de la Lune rousse operated there and where the popular performer La Poune notably appeared. In 1984 the Groupe de la Veillée bought an abandoned former cinema on rue Ontario est and roughly renovated it into a performance space. A major renovation followed in 1995, funded by a grant of nearly $3,000,000, mainly from the Government of Québec, allowing a complete reconstruction of the building; the result was two halls and various fitted rooms that made the theatre one of Montréal's important performance venues. In 1999 the Théâtre de la Veillée was renamed Théâtre Prospero, taking its new name from the principal character of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Artistically, the theatre describes its work as centred on stage creation in dialogue with all participants, practitioners and actors alike, and as open to the world since its earliest days. Each year it presents roughly two to three creations by the Groupe de la Veillée and six to nine shows by guest companies. Carmen Jolin served as artistic director from 2009 to 2021; Philippe Cyr began his mandate as artistic director and co-general director in August 2021. Since the 2023–2024 season the theatre has adopted modular ticketing, letting spectators choose their own price within a rate grid according to their budget and their desire to support culture. The current programming reflects this dual identity, mixing main-hall productions, intimate-hall work and off-site projects. Recent and upcoming seasons include "Ces regards amoureux de garçons altérés" (text by Éric Noël, directed by Philippe Cyr) in the main hall, "Floconie" (text, direction and performance by Hoda Adra) in the intimate hall, an adaptation of Aeschylus's "Les suppliantes" directed by Sophie El-Assaad, and "L'habitude des ruines" presented at the Cité-des-Hospitalières. The theatre also communicates institutional news, including a major announcement of a "new Prospero" in April 2026 and a declaration of solidarity with Palestine in September 2025.

The site of Théâtre Prospero on rue Ontario est in Montréal has been a performance location since at least 1911, when the Théâtre de la Lune rousse operated there and where the popular performer La Poune notably appeared. The modern institution traces its origin to 1984, when the Groupe de la Veillée acquired an abandoned former cinema on rue Ontario est and carried out a rough renovation to turn it into a performance hall. In 1995 the organization undertook a major renovation of the premises, supported by a grant of nearly $3,000,000, mainly from the Government of Québec, which allowed the complete reconstruction of the building. The rebuilt venue now comprised two halls and various fitted rooms, establishing it as one of Montréal's important performance and diffusion venues. In 1999 the Théâtre de la Veillée was renamed Théâtre Prospero. The new name was taken from Prospero, the principal character of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The theatre continued to operate as a home for the Groupe de la Veillée's own creations while also hosting invited companies. Carmen Jolin served as artistic director from 2009 to 2021. In August 2021 Philippe Cyr began his mandate as artistic director and co-general director. From the 2023–2024 season onward, the theatre adopted modular ticketing, allowing spectators to choose their own price within a rate grid based on their budget and their wish to support culture. The theatre's programming in the mid-2020s continued to combine main-hall productions, intimate-hall work and off-site projects, alongside institutional announcements such as a major "new Prospero" announcement in April 2026 and a declaration of solidarity with Palestine in September 2025.

• 2026

  Major announcement of a "new Prospero" on 10 April; additional performances announced on 2 September.

• 2025

  Declaration of solidarity with Palestine published on 26 September.

• 2023

  From the 2023–2024 season, the theatre adopted modular ticketing.

• 2021

  Philippe Cyr began his mandate as artistic director and co-general director in August; Carmen Jolin's mandate as artistic director ended.

• 2009

  Carmen Jolin began her mandate as artistic director.

• 1999

  Théâtre de la Veillée renamed Théâtre Prospero, after the principal character of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

• 1995

  Major renovation with a grant of nearly $3,000,000, mainly from the Government of Québec, allowing complete reconstruction of the building into two halls.

• 1984

  Groupe de la Veillée acquired an abandoned former cinema on rue Ontario est and roughly renovated it into a performance hall.

• 1911

  The Théâtre de la Lune rousse operated at the site, where La Poune notably performed.

A Montréal theatre venue and creation house combining its own company's productions with guest-company programming, known for modular halls and accessible modular ticketing.

• Ces regards amoureux de garçons altérés

• Floconie

• Les suppliantes

• L'habitude des ruines

1. 1Accueil | Théâtre Prosperotheatreprospero.com
2. 2Théâtre Prospero — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Théâtre Prospero — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org