Centaur Theatre 58th Season

Centaur Theatre 58th Season

CENTAUR THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS 2026-27 SEASON:

GREAT STORIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

May 1,  2027

In the heart of Old Montreal

Centaur Theatre proudly unveils its 2026–2027 season, a bold and ambitious return to full-scale programming following the completion of its transformative renovation project. Themed “Great Stories in the Spotlight”, the five-play subscription series celebrates the power of theatrical storytelling in its most vital, imaginative, and human forms.

Marking the company’s first full five-play season in over six years, this landmark lineup reflects Centaur’s commitment to presenting high-calibre, thought-provoking work that resonates deeply with contemporary audiences. From inventive solo performance and world premieres to re-imagined classics and sharp-edged comedy, the season brings together an exceptional range of artists and voices.

The Artistic & Executive Director Eda Holmes stated:

“This is a defining moment for Centaur. After a period of infrastructural renewal and transformation, our focus returns fully to the stage with a season that embraces theatricality, celebrates storytelling, and invites audiences to share in the immediacy and magic of live performance.”

In a significant step toward greater accessibility, Centaur is also reducing adult and senior subscription prices by more than 10%, reinforcing its belief that outstanding live theatre should be both extraordinary and accessible.

Centaur’s 58th season ushers in most ambitious programming in over six years, with a full five-play subscription series that celebrates the vitality and variety of live theatre. From celebrated Canadian artists and iconic Montreal performers to the world’s master storytellers—spanning ancient Greek epics to 20th century Irish modernism and cutting-edge First Nations comedy—this is a season designed to inspire, delight, and surprise.

Subscribe now to secure your place.

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2026–2027 SEASON LINEUP :  

Centaur Theatre Presents

WONDERFUL JOE

October 13 – November 1, 2026

A Production of Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes
Created & Performed by Ronnie Burkett

Music by John Alcorn

A man and his dog set out on a fantastical odyssey through a fractured world, discovering magic in the margins and proving that even the most broken hearts can be filled with wonder. Age restriction: 16+.

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Centaur Theatre presents

HOLIDAY IN ZÜRICH

November 4 – 22, 2026

By Colleen Murphy
Directed by Micheline Chevrier

With Danielle Desormeaux and Brian Dooley

A tender and darkly funny portrait of a happily married couple in their 70’s on the brink of a jam-packed trip to Switzerland, where romance, mortality, and wildly different ideas about “one last adventure” collide at the edge of goodbye.

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Centaur Theatre and Théâtre du Double Signe present

ISMENE

March 3 – 21, 2027

By Carole Fréchette
Translated by Linda Gaboriau
Directed by Alisa Palmer

Starring Amelia Sargisson

Step beyond the myth and into the voice history forgot: Antigone’s sister reclaims her story, offering a bold new perspective on the classic tale of sacrifice, familial loyalty, and the cost of defiance.

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Centaur Theatre and Productions Menuentakuan present

WOMEN OF THE FUR TRADE

April 14 – May 2, 2027

By Frances Koncan
Directed by Charles Bender

With Océane Kitura Bohémier-Tootoo, Marie-Pier Chamberland, Xavier Huard, Geneviève Pelletier and Étienne Thibeault

A razor-sharp and gleefully anachronistic remix of Indigenous and Canadian history that places a trio of women with a penchant for 21st century slang at the heart of the 19th century Riel Resista

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Centaur Theatre and Théâtre Denise-Pelletier present

WAITING FOR GODOT

May 5 – 23, 2027 

By Samuel Beckett
Directed by Eda Holmes

Co-Directed by Rebecca Gibian

With Andreas Apergis, Wood Barthelmy, Frédéric Charbonneau and Lennikim

A raw, contemporary Godot, where a new generation waits, jokes, spirals, and searches for meaning in a world that keeps promising something—and never quite delivers.

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 For more information, visit the Centaur Theatre website.

  

Centaur Theatre 2026: Seeker

 

SEEKER

 

By Marie-Claude Verdier

World English Language Premier 

Translated by Alexis Diamond
Directed by Rebecca Gibian
With Bénédicte Bélizaire and Andrew Shaver

April 15, 2026  — May 3, 2026

CENTAUR THEATRE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TALISMAN PRESENTS THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PREMIERE OF AWARD-WINNING SCI-FI THRILLER SEEKER

The play was first premiered in 2021 to sold-out audiences at Montréal’s Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui. It was acclaimed as a coup-de-force and was praised for its striking fusion of speculative science fiction and deeply touching human storytelling. It is intense and immersive in design and offers elements of intimacy, questioning, and also sorrow. It focuses on the humanity’s desire and urgency to travel beyond Earth, the survival in extreme conditions, and the possibility of unforeseen tragic consequences.

 

Hailed as a “coup-de-force” when it first premiered in 2021, this gripping sci-fi drama transports audiences to the year 2250, to a remote military base in Colorado. Lomond is a Seeker, recruited for his extraordinary ability to enter and interpret the memories of others. When he is summoned to undertake a classified military exercise, he is stunned to discover that the mission is being led by his estranged ex-wife—newly returned from a mysterious interplanetary mission.

As past and present begin to blur, Lomond is drawn into one of the most complex and unsettling investigations of his career. Forced to collaborate with the woman who once knew him best, he must navigate the volatile terrain of memory, loss, and concealed history. Together, they uncover a truth buried deep within lost memories—one that could reshape not only their relationship, but the future of humanity itself.

This sci-fi thriller drew sold-out crowds at its French premiere in 2021. It still has the same power to keep the focused attention not only of the devoted sci-fi fans but also of the general audiences. 

 

Seeker is directed by Rebecca Gibian, Centaur Theatre’s Associate Artist, making her Centaur directorial debut following a string of acclaimed productions across Montreal, including The Importance of Being Earnest (Repercussion Theatre), How to Survive in the Wild, and The Flick (both Persephone Productions).

This play's intimate two-hander features newcomer Bénédicte Bélizaire, recent META Award winner for Outstanding Lead Performance, and the acclaimed Andrew Shaver, whom Centaur audiences will recognize from productions including The 39 Steps, Trad, and others.

The design team brings together award-winning talent from across Montreal’s theatre community, including Geneviève Lizotte and Carol-Anne Bourgon Sicard (Set Design), Paul Chambers (Lighting Design), and Antoine Berthiaume (Music & Sound Design).

All photos in this article by Andrée Lanthier, courtesy of Centaur Theatre.
For more information, visit the Centaur Theatre website.

 

Conseil des arts de Montréal 2026

CONSEIL DES ARTS DE MONTRÉAL

The 40th Grand Prix

April 2, 2026

  

In front of over 900 guests at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) awarded its 40th Grand Prix, accompanied by a cash prize increased to $40,000 and a unique work of art valued at $10,000, to the No Excuses, No Limits Movement. The Prix du jury ($10,000), offered by the Desjardins Caisse de la Culture, and the Prix du public Télé-Québec ($10,000) were both awarded to Ciné-Quartier. The eight nominated finalists each received a $5,000 prize, bringing the total amount awarded during this 40th Grand Prix to $100,000.

 

A tribute to the creative forces in Montréal’s artistic community

 

Host Édith Cochrane, with her electrifying energy, was joined by Nathalie Maillé and Mathieu Bouchard, respectively Executive Director and President of CAM, as well as over 900 distinguished guests from the cultural, business and political spheres. They included Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montréal, and Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.

 

40th Grand Prix ($40,000): No Excuses, No Limits Movement

 

Animated by a force that liberates, uplifts and unites, the No Excuses, No Limits Movement  embodies a quest for the absolute and the pursuit of excellence. Brimming with energy, generosity and infectious pride, this dance troupe proves that differences can be an exceptional driving force for choreographic creation and an inclusive space for self-affirmation.

 

From the Invictus Games in Vancouver to the NO LIMITS festival at Maison de la culture Maisonneuve to the Paris Olympics, this movement celebrates bodies that defy convention, reinventing and pushing the boundaries of breakdancing as each performance becomes a unique, powerful and vital space for self-expression.

 

Prix du jury ($10,000) and Prix du public Télé-Québec ($10,000): Ciné-Quartier

 

Shared cinematic moments that transform into genuine encounters: this is what Ciné-Quartier invites us to experience in neighbourhoods across Montréal.   

By encouraging the discovery of French-language Québec cinema and building authentic connections between filmmakers and audiences, this one-of-a-kind organization shows how powerful culture can be a vehicle for creating social bonds. Backed by an exceptional level of commitment and a network of dedicated partners, Ciné-Quartier won the hearts of the 4,463 Prix du public Télé-Québec voters in addition to earning the Prix du Jury.

Jury and selection criteria

The jury in charge of selecting the winners of the 40th Grand Prix and Prix du jury was chaired by Mathieu Bouchard, President of the CAM and Vice President of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Deep Sky. It also included Félix-Antoine Joli-Coeur, Founder and President of Volume 10, D. Kimm, Founder and outgoing Artistic Director of Les Filles électriques and the Phénomena Festival, and winner of the 39th Grand Prix; singer-songwriter Djely Tapa; and writerKim Thúy.

The winning artist or organization for the 40th Grand Prix was selected based on the innovation, uniqueness and authenticity of their artistic process; their desire to take action and make an impact on the community; and the originality and merit of the strategies used to reach Montréal-area audiences or engage the target community.

The jury was tasked with selecting the winning artists and organizations from among the eight finalists nominated for their artistic contributions in 2025: Agora de la danse; Artificiel.org – Eisode; Ciné-Quartier; La Messe Basse; Manuel Mathieu; Montréal, arts interculturels (MAI); the No Excuses No Limits Movement; and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Vital, valuable contributions

The Conseil extends its warmest thanks to its major partners, whose support has helped make this event a highlight of Montréal’s artistic calendar: Loto-Québec, Télé-Québec, Desjardins Caisse de la Culture and La Presse, as well as its creative partner, Leeroy.

A very big thank-you also goes to our sponsors and donors for their contributions, which help support the finalists and artistic performances presented as part of the 40th Grand Prix: Power Corporation of Canada, Bell, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Fondation Pierre Desmarais Belvédère, Tourisme Montréal and Québecor, as well as our arts partners: Business Development Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, BNP Inspire, CAE, Casacom, Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM), EY, Fasken, Azrieli Foundation, Macdonald Stewart Foundation, KPMG + Agence Substance, McCarthy Tétrault, Nukleo, Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur and WSP. 

About the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM)

Founded in 1956, the Conseil des arts de Montréal supports artistic innovation and creative expression in all their diversity by offering various forms of support to promote Montréal artists and organizations that create, produce and present art. For 70 years, it has played a unique role as a catalyst and helped make Montréal a vibrant cultural metropolis, recognized at home and abroad for its artistic vitality.

 

McCord 2026: Montreal 1976 Olympics

MONTREAL 1976: AN OLYMPIC FEAT

50th ANNIVERSARY 

Temporary exhibition

March 27 - September 13, 2026

Dedicated website address of this article here.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, the Museum presents an unprecedented retrospective on this event that marked the city’s history and redefined its image. Featuring an outstanding array of objects, documents, works on paper (posters, archives, editorial cartoons and photographs), collectibles, videos, clothing and accessories, Montreal 1976: An Olympic Feat focuses on the organization behind this hugely successful milestone event. Visitors learn about the many challenges that arose during the run-up to the Games—a veritable race against time—as well as the rich urban, architectural and sports legacy the Games left behind. This project is part of the official programming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games.

Christian Vachon, Curator, Documentary Art, Director, Collections Management and the curator of the exhibition stated:

“By highlighting exclusive objects and archives from our collections, the exhibition gives voice to the people who shaped the experience and image of the 1976 Montreal Games. Fashion designers, graphic designers, poster artists, architects, photographers and editorial cartoonists were all involved in promoting sports. Together, these artists, in an incredible burst of creativity, built on the success of Expo 67 to cement Montreal’s arrival as a world-class city. Although the Olympic adventure also involved less pleasant memories of mismanagement and debt, the exhibition aims to rekindle the pride Montrealers felt when they welcomed the world.”

Anne Eschapasse, President Chief Executive Officer, elaborated:

“The last global event organized in Montreal, the Olympic Games were a truly exceptional undertaking, plagued with difficulties and yet hugely successful. Given its mission to promote our stories and heritage along with its remarkable collections, it was only natural that the McCord Stewart Museum pay tribute to the visionaries, builders and creatives who joined forces to create a memorable experience for both athletes and the public and showcase the city’s vibrant energy. I’d like to thank our many public and private partners who have worked together, fifty years later, to recreate the excitement, exuberance and joy associated with this event.”

 

Culture as a central tenet of the Olympic ideal

In keeping with the Olympic ideal revived by Pierre de Coubertin, the city of Montreal was transformed into a buzzing cultural metropolis during the Games. Visitors were greeted by extensive cultural programming in the streets, parks and theatres of every area in the city. The exhibition demonstrates how preparing for the 1976 Games turned Montreal into a veritable laboratory of identity, social and urban design. An impressive selection of items drawn from the Museum’s archives chronicles the design process and subsequent international recognition of the Montreal 1976 logo, the wide range of communications produced for the Games, and the bold architecture of the Olympic Stadium, the Velodrome and the Olympic Village, all of which have become iconic structures in the city.

 

Olympic challenges

In Montreal 1976: An Olympic Feat, visitors learn about the challenges and tensions that arose in the lead-up to the Games. These include Mayor Drapeau’s “Olympic clean-up” campaign—harassment of homosexual communities, arrests of homeless people, the removal of public posters and the dismantlement of the Corridart exhibition—as well as the geopolitical instability of the era, illustrated by the deployment of 18,000 security personnel during the Games, the boycott led by a majority of African nations, and Canada’s refusal to allow Taiwan to compete.

  

Let the Games begin!

The exhibition shines a light—and the colours of the rainbow!—on the ways in which the Games left a lasting impression on the collective memory. From Nadia Comăneci to Caitlyn Jenner, then competing as Bruce Jenner, Montreal 1976: An Olympic Feat presents the achievements of sports personalities who have become icons, along with those of lesser-known athletes. Thanks to previously unpublished photographs from the Museum’s La Presse fonds and videos from the archives of CBC/Radio-Canada, visitors will discover the charisma, performances and Olympic values of these remarkable figures.

This vibrantly staged area of the exhibition also showcases Olympic fashion, presenting the collaborative work of a team of four renowned Montreal designers. The 15 official uniforms on display demonstrate the functional approach taken, where colour is used to identify the various categories of Olympic personnel. Finally, there is a section devoted to the lasting legacy of the 1976 Games: infrastructure that has helped foster new high-level athletes and raise the nation’s awareness of the importance of supporting amateur sport.

Family Activity – Complete an Olympic challenge

The exhibition includes a fun-filled interactive tour that invites children ages 6 to 12 and the adults accompanying them to help the city of Montreal fulfill its dream of hosting the Olympic Games. Challenges and puzzles are sprinkled throughout the exhibition, leading participants straight to victory—and the podium for a souvenir photo!

Beyond the Games: Montreal’s Olympic Story – Virtual exhibition

To complement the Museum’s physical exhibition, Beyond the Games: Montreal’s Olympic Story will go online in July 2026. Designed for young people ages 12 to 17 years, this virtual exhibition will offer an accessible, engaging look at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games: their bold visual identity, architectural innovations, the challenges that arose during the run-up to the Games and, of course, the athletic performances that captivated the world. Featuring exclusive content, this virtual exhibition will showcase the defining moments of a major event in Canada’s Olympic history.

This project was made possible thanks to the support of Digital Museums Canada

5 collections on display

Items from the Museum’s various collections come together to recreate the colourful atmosphere of the 1970s

Hundreds of photographs from the La Presse fonds

The exhibition features hundreds of unpublished photographs selected from among the thousands in the La Presse fonds from the years 1970-1976

Over 150 editorial cartoons

Some 20 uniforms created for the Games

Over 100 commemorative objects

Guided tour and conversation - The Montreal Olympic Games: Legacy and Outlook

In partnership with Heritage Montreal

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – Guided tour 5:00-5:45 pm, Conversation 6:00-7:15 pm.

All photos in this article @ Nadia Slejskova

The dedicated internet address of this article or click on the title above the first photo at the top. 

For more information about current exhibitions and special evens associated with this exhibition, visit the McCord Stewart Museum website.

  

McCord 2025: Holidays

Holidays at the McCord Stewart Museum  

Until January 11, 2026

The magic of the holidays returns to the McCord Stewart Museum until January 4, 2026. Thanks to the support of Place Montréal Trust, Presenting Partner, and Power Corporation of Canada, Premiere Partner – Montreal Stories, visitors will be able to reconnect with their inner child as they marvel at Ogilvy’s legendary mechanical Christmas windows, which have been delighting Montrealers for over 75 years. The two enchanting scenes filled with animated characters is once again be on view in the Museum’s indoor Theatre and its outdoor Alley. 

The four current exhibitions and rich lineup of fun creative activities for children and adults alike will round out the Museum’s holiday programming. 

Ogilvy’s Christmas mechanical window displays

Until January 11, 2026

Relive the magic of The Enchanted Village indoor and of The Mill in the Forest outdoor of the Museum! Montrealers have been spellbound by the mechanical displays in Ogilvy’s department store windows for over 75 years — a Holiday tradition that began in 1947. The Bavarian scenes, custom made by the German toy manufacturer Steiff, feature dozens of handcrafted animals working and playing.

For more information about current exhibitions and special evens associated with this exhibition, visit the McCord Stewart Museum website.