La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines

Located just steps away from the bustling Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the heart of Montreal, La Chapelle was founded in 1990. It is a creative space, a performance venue, and an organization dedicated to promoting the performing arts, with a focus on young artists and interdisciplinary and alternative forms of expression.

Its programming offers French- and English-language theater, dance, performances, circus arts, music, and multidisciplinary works that transcend art forms.

35 years in a few words

Founded by Richard Simas in May 1990, Théâtre La Chapelle quickly gained recognition for its contribution to the emergence of a generation of artists with hybrid practices, which until then had been considered unclassifiable and little known. This marked the beginning of growing recognition among the public, which has continued to grow ever since. In 2002, in order to be more in line with its multidisciplinary mandate, the venue changed its name to La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines.

In 2007, Jack Udashkin took over and breathed new life into La Chapelle, which underwent an unprecedented transformation. It adopted a radical strategy in order to ride the wave of a new contemporary scene that was among the most creative. By introducing innovative management practices in line with the new realities of the cultural milieu, it continued to shake up the codes of performance. Dance took center stage, contemporary circus made its debut, and interdisciplinarity, that space of freedom unique to the spirit of the place, continued to assert itself.

In 2015, a third era began with the appointment of Olivier Bertrand. With a quarter of a century of experience under its belt, La Chapelle opened up to a large international network and established new ways of working together.

The mandate continues with conviction, breathing a lively and innovative spirit into the performing arts landscape in Montreal and beyond. The creation of new audience development programs allows for unprecedented and inclusive outreach to a broader and more diverse audience.

La Chapelle is a crossroads for meetings and reflection, a catalyst for contemporary creation, a vehicle for showcasing the performing arts in all their diversity and complexity.

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