Theatre History Overview - Part 36 - Canadian Theatre

Canadian theatre started with the rituals peformed during ceremonies for the Aboringal people. The first year that European theatre came to Canada isn't certain, but it is thought that Sir Humphrye Gilbert and a copany of mummers came to Canada in 1583.

On November 14, 1606, Le Théâtre de Neptune en la Nouvelle-France was produced by Marc Lescarbot. All theatre in Canada was amateur until after the founding of the colonies. It was then that professional actors began to arrive. In 1693-1694, Bishop Saint-Vallier bribed Governor Frontenac to not perform Moliere's Tartuffe.

In general, Moliere was not performed until the British Conquest of Canada in 1760. By the 1830s, Canada had some playwrights of its own. Most of what they wrote was influenced by the European style that had been brought to Canada ealier.

By the early 1900s, Canada had theatre education. In the 1950s and 1960s, regional theatres started appearing across the country. In 1978-1979, Billy Bishop Goes to War went on a national tour across Canada. By the 1980s, Canadian theatre was being produced locally and abroad. Canadian theatre is still strong today. There is even Aboriginal Theatre that has traditions that date back to the original Aboriginal rituals.

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