Since its founding in 1985, La Troupe du Jour has brought professional Francophone theatre to life and helped it thrive across Saskatchewan. Over the decades, passionate artists, playwrights and theatre professionals have built a company deeply rooted in its community and committed to promoting the French language and Fransaskois culture.
Landmark productions, awards, tours, new initiatives and defining moments: discover some of the milestones that have shaped our journey. Forty Years of Stories… and the Story Continues!
Alphonse Gaudet, Carmen Gareau and Michel Quirion founded La Troupe du Jour, which would go on to become the only professional Francophone theatre company in Saskatchewan.
“We decided to start our own theatre. A theatre that reflects the Fransaskois voice, that reflects our reality.”
La Troupe presents its first production, Azarie, a collective creation exploring the cultural marginalization of elderly Fransaskois people within the provincial nursing home system. That same year, the company adopts its historic two-mask logo.
Denis Rouleau joins La Troupe du Jour, leaving a profound mark on the company’s artistic history over the next three decades.
La Troupe presents Balconville by David Fennario, directed by Laurier Gareau.
The play, written by Laurier Gareau and directed by Denis Rouleau, stands among the notable productions of this period. La Trahison is a passionate conversation between Gabriel Dumont and Father Julien Moulin, the elderly priest of Batoche. Set in 1905, the play follows the aging Métis leader as he seeks to be buried alongside his people in the Batoche cemetery, despite not having set foot in a church since the end of the armed Resistance of 1885.
The year 1997 was marked by the creation of the Cercle des écrivains and La Troupe du Jour’s participation in the first Festival de la dramaturgie fransaskoise. These two events strengthened La Troupe’s role in the development of local Francophone playwriting. (Photo: May 2026.)
La Troupe du Jour became the first theatre company to be inducted into the Margaret Woodward Theatre Hall of Fame. This recognition honoured the company’s excellence in promoting and developing Francophone theatre at the provincial, national and international levels.
The introduction of English surtitles enables La Troupe du Jour to reach a broader audience across Saskatchewan while continuing to create and present theatre in French.
Rearview, a creation by Gilles Poulin-Denis, embarks on a cross-Canada tour and is nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Awards.
La Troupe du Jour acquires its own production centre, a major milestone in its development and its roots in Saskatoon.
The creation of this scholarship honours Denis Rouleau’s legacy while contributing to the development of the next generation of artists. Valued at $500, the scholarship is awarded once a year to a Francophone theatre artist to support their artistic and professional development. Preference is given to Fransaskois artists: artists who practise their art in French in Saskatchewan.
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La Troupe, in partnership with the Fransaskois Foundation, creates a fund in honour of Ian C. Nelson, a founding figure of Francophone theatre in Saskatchewan, who passed away on February 1, 2024.
In 1969, Ian C. Nelson and a group of passionate Francophone and Francophile students at the University of Saskatchewan founded Unithéâtre. This initiative helped pave the way for the creation of a professional theatre company.
La Troupe launches its 40th season under the theme “She narrates, we resonate!”, celebrating four decades of creativity and connection with audiences.
For our 40th season, women’s voices take centre stage! The 2025–2026 season highlights women creators and performers from across the Canadian Francophonie: Bianca Richard (Parler mal, New Brunswick), Madeleine Blais-Dahlem (Cantate pour légumes, Saskatchewan), Marie-Ève Fontaine (Cet été qui chantait, Manitoba) and Isabelle Payant (45, de la Taupinière, Quebec).
Madeleine Blais-Dahlem receives the Centre des écritures dramatiques – Wallonie-Bruxelles Award, while Jesse Fulcher Gagnon receives the Roland Mahé Award from the Association des théâtres francophones du Canada (ATFC) Foundation.
La Troupe officially celebrates its 40th anniversary and unveils its new visual identity, marking both the journey so far and the beginning of a new chapter.
Community production/adults; a collective creation
Community production/adults; a collective creation
Community production/adults; by Molière
Community production/adults; by Michel Tremblay
Community production/children; adaptation of a legend
Community production/adults; by Jean Barbeau
Community production/children; by Solange Lavigne
Community production/adults; by Michèle Barbier
Community production/adults; by Michel Tremblay
Community production/adults; by Molière
Professional production/children; by Joël Richard
Community production/adults; by David Fenario
To create and present bold, accessible professional Francophone theatre that is deeply rooted in its community. La Troupe du Jour supports artists in their creative process, fosters the emergence of new works and creates opportunities for audiences from all walks of life to discover theatre in French.
To make Francophone theatre a vibrant space where the stories, voices, and imaginations of our communities can fully express themselves. La Troupe du Jour aspires to an open, creative and inclusive Francophonie, where theatre builds bridges between generations, cultures and communities.
We believe in the power of imagination, artistic boldness and the freedom to create. We support artists and emerging voices that contribute to the renewal of Francophone theatre.
We keep the French language alive through creation, performance and connection. We celebrate Fransaskois culture while placing it within a diverse Francophonie that is open to the world.
Theatre is first and foremost about connection. We strive to build lasting relationships with our audiences, artists, partners and the communities we serve.
We want everyone to find their place at La Troupe du Jour. We foster welcoming, accessible and respectful spaces that embrace diverse experiences, identities and perspectives.
We believe the best ideas come to life when they are shared. Listening, dialogue and collaboration are at the heart of how we create and work.
In 2024–2025, our school programs reached 3,863 students across Saskatchewan, with 169 workshops delivered in schools.
Par ses ateliers, ses activités scolaires et ses projets de formation, La Troupe du Jour initie les jeunes au théâtre et leur permet de découvrir la création, le jeu et les métiers de la scène.
Since 1997, the Writers’ Circle has brought together nearly a dozen participants each year to explore Francophone writing and creation, culminating in two public presentations at the end of the season.
Our programming offers diverse, accessible, and engaging works, while creating space for artists and stories from the Francophone community.
Bruce provides artistic leadership at La Troupe du Jour and co-leads the organization, overseeing the company’s creative vision and artistic development.
Contact our coordinator for our École de théâtre and custom workshops for schools.
Lina oversees the strategic and administrative management of La Troupe du Jour, supporting its artistic and organizational development.
For space rentals and general inquiries, Jaron is your point of contact.
Frank is your point of contact for all audiovisual needs at the Studio Ian C. Nelson.
Aida supports audience development and philanthropy initiatives through communications, engagement and audience relations.
President – Sylvie Bergeron
Vice-President – Henri Biahé
Treasurer – Frédérique Baudemont
Secretary – Marie-Diane Clarke
Advisor – Jeffrey Klassen
Advisor – Shannon Lacroix
Advisor – Mike Bowden
La Troupe du Jour is a professional Francophone theatre company based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Since 1986, it has created, produced, and presented theatre in French and contributed to the development of Francophone theatre and culture in Saskatchewan.
Each season, La Troupe du Jour presents a diverse lineup featuring professional productions, community productions, and guest performances from across Canada. Explore our programming to discover upcoming shows.
A season subscription gives you access to several shows throughout the season at a special rate. For the current season, simply select a ticket for each eligible show, and the discount will be automatically applied to your cart.
Yes. La Troupe du Jour offers a École de théâtre for young people, as well as theatre workshops in schools. These activities give young people the opportunity to develop their creativity, confidence, and interest in the performing arts in French.
As first inhabitants of Treaty 6 territory, they have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. We support their right to sovereignty, equality, safety, access to high quality and culturally sensitive healthcare, education, family services, justice,
and to never again have essentials like food, clean drinking water, and basic human rights and freedoms withheld from them.
We are grateful to be able to benefit from the knowledge they have accumulated over millennia: their wisdom, talents, contributions, successes, and the beauty of their cultures. We vow to be good stewards of these lands, and to participate in reconciliation efforts however we can.
