Centaur Theatre
Centaur Theatre is a Montreal-based non-profit performing arts organization operating Montreal's primary English-language theatre from the historic Old Stock Exchange building, producing subscription seasons, experimental works, and educational programs for Anglophone, Indigenous, and student audiences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Centaur Theatre does
Centaur Theatre is a registered non-profit performing arts organization founded in 1967 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, operating from the historic Old Stock Exchange building in Old Montreal at 453 Saint François-Xavier. The company functions as Montreal's primary English-language theatre, producing an annual subscription season of three to five plays, an experimental WinterWorks festival, a Centaur+ enrichment program (concerts, talks, Play Club), and educational initiatives including the Theatre of Tomorrow program for high school groups. Its physical plant comprises two performance spaces—Centaur 1, a 241-seat black box on a steep rake, and Centaur 2, a 422-seat proscenium theatre with small thrust—plus the flexible Centaur Gallery, for a combined 663-seat capacity. Centaur 2 completed a major Phase One renovation in March 2025 that added a state-of-the-art fly tower with motorized rigging (the first fly tower for English-language theatre in Montreal) and a HEPA-filtered ventilation upgrade, with a state-of-the-art wheelchair accessibility lift installed in October 2024.
The organization's revenue model blends earned and contributed income across five streams: individual ticket sales ($15–$59 across tiers), season subscriptions offering up to 25% savings over single tickets, facility rentals for theatrical and corporate events ($500–$4,500+ for WinterWorks slots), donations and fundraising (Director's Circle, monthly giving, "10K in 10 Days" matching campaigns, the Centaur Spectacular! gala which raised over $100,000 in June 2025), and government grants (Québec's Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and Canadian Heritage's Official Languages Program supporting the renovation). Customer segmentation is hybrid by geography and persona: the primary segment is Montreal's Anglophone community at full price, supplemented by Indigenous audiences via the $15 "All My Relations" program (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), students and arts workers under 35 at $16–$34, seniors at $43–$54, and corporate/private event clients via facility rental. Pricing is tiered across Adult, Senior (60+), and 35 & Under brackets, with Value Nights (Tuesday/Wednesday and previews) priced 20% below weekends.
Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a physical and telephone box office (514-288-3161) and an online ticketing platform (purchase.centaurtheatre.com), supplemented by group sales for schools and a Perk Card program offering subscriber discounts at 13+ partner cultural venues across Montreal (Segal Centre, Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal). The organization employs between 11 and 50 staff and is led by Artistic & Executive Director Eda Holmes (appointed 2017 as the company's first female leader), with general management transitioning after the retirement of Charles Childs in March 2023. Recent strategic co-productions with Productions Menuentakuan (Indigenous Quebec), Théâtre Denise-Pelletier and Théâtre du Double Signe (French-language Montreal), and North American co-commissions with Stanford Live, UCLA CAP UCLA, and TO Live indicate expanding artistic partnerships beyond the core Anglophone audience.
Centaur Theatre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centaur Theatre
- Legal name
- Centaur Theatre Company
- Website
- https://centaurtheatre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Centaur Theatre is a Montreal-based non-profit performing arts organization operating Montreal's primary English-language theatre from the historic Old Stock Exchange building, producing subscription seasons, experimental works, and educational programs for Anglophone, Indigenous, and student audiences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centaur Theatre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Theatre / Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)
Keywords
Where Centaur Theatre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Centaur Theatre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales - Individual: Single ticket purchases for individual performances across subscription series shows and special productions. Ticket prices range from $15 (Indigenous 'All My Relations' pricing) to $59 (regular adult A-tier pricing) with various price categories including senior, 35 & under/arts worker, and preview pricing.
- Season Subscriptions: Season subscriptions for 3, 4, or 5 plays offering up to 25% savings versus single tickets. Subscription tiers include Adult, Senior (60+), and 35 & Under pricing categories, with Value Nights and Weekend pricing options.
- Donations & Fundraising: Charitable donations accepted with tax receipts for donations $25+. One-time and monthly donation options available. Fundraising events include 'Dinner with Friends' events and 'Centaur Spectacular!' gala (raised $100,000+). Director's Circle membership for donors. 10K in 10 Days matching campaign.
- Facility Rental: Rental of two theatres (Centaur 1 and Centaur 2) and Centaur Gallery for theatrical productions and corporate events. Includes Front-of-House services (ushers, coat check, concession, cash bar), Box Office services (reservation system, ticket sellers, revenue reports).
- WinterWorks Program Fees: WinterWorks festival presenting experimental performances. Production stream offers minimum $4,500 fee (including box office split), Unconventional Space stream minimum $1,000, Reading stream minimum $500.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Play Season Subscription - Adult |
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Play Season Subscription - Senior (60+) |
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Play Season Subscription - 35 & Under |
| Subscription | Annual | 4-Play Season Subscription - Various Tiers |
| Subscription | Annual | 3-Play Season Subscription - Various Tiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Tickets - A Tier (Main Shows) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Tickets - B Tier (Secondary Shows) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Indigenous Access Pricing - All My Relations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Preview Performance Pricing - For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Centaur Theatre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Centaur Theatre is a non-profit performing arts organization that produces and presents English-language live theatre in Montreal through two fully equipped performance spaces (Centaur 1 - 241-seat black box; Centaur 2 - 422-seat proscenium with fly tower). Its core offerings include season subscription series of theatrical productions, single ticket sales, facility rentals for theatrical productions and corporate events, and community engagement programs.
Product overview
Centaur Theatre operates as a live theatre venue offering a multi-product experience centered on its two performance spaces (Centaur 1: intimate 241-seat black box theatre; Centaur 2: 422-seat proscenium theatre with newly added fly tower) and the flexible Centaur Gallery. The core product is the Subscription Series, offering 3, 4, or 5 play packages with tiered pricing and perks. Supplementary offerings include Centaur+ (concerts, talks, Play Club), WinterWorks festival (experimental performances), and Facility Rental for external productions. The venue recently completed a major renovation adding a state-of-the-art fly tower to Centaur 2, significantly enhancing production capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Subscription Series Main subscription package offering 3, 4, or 5 play subscriptions with up to 25% savings off single tickets. Includes pre-sale access, 10% off additional tickets, free exchanges, and Perk Card discounts. Available in Adult, Senior (60+), and 35 & Under pricing tiers with Value Nights and Weekend pricing options.
- Centaur 1 (Venue Rental)
Quantifiable outcome
- Centaur Spectacular! Gala raised more than $100,000
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Centaur Theatre
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Centaur Theatre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Centaur Theatre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Productions MenuentakuancoreIndigenous Quebec theatre company partnership for 'Women of the Fur Trade' (Montreal premiere, April-May 2027). Co-production with acclaimed Indigenous theatre company known for comedic lens on Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations. Directed by Menuentakuan Co-Artistic Director Charles Bender.
- Théâtre Denise-PelletiercoreCo-production partnership for 'Waiting for Godot' (May 5-23, 2027) with the French-language theatre. Directed by Eda Holmes in collaboration with Rebecca Gibian. Represents cross-community theatrical collaboration.
- Théâtre du Double SignecorePartnership for 'Ismene' (March 3-21, 2027). Centaur in partnership with Théâtre du Double Signe presenting Carole Fréchette's play. Amelia Sargisson performs bilingual version at both venues.
- Ronnie Burkett Theatre of MarionettescoreCo-production of 'Wonderful Joe' (October 13-November 1, 2026). Created and performed by Ronnie Burkett, one of the world's foremost marionettists. Theatre network supporting development.
- Stanford LiveminorCo-commissioned 'Wonderful Joe' with Stanford Live (Stanford, California, USA). Part of North American co-commissioning partnership.
- UCLA Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA)minorCo-commissioned 'Wonderful Joe' with UCLA's CAP (Los Angeles, California, USA). Part of North American co-commissioning partnership.
- TO LiveminorCo-commissioned 'Wonderful Joe' with TO Live (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Part of North American co-commissioning partnership.
- Theatre NetworkminorEdmonton-based theatre network providing developmental support for 'Wonderful Joe' production.
- Canada Council for the ArtscoreDevelopment support through Explore and Create Program for Ronnie Burkett's 'Wonderful Joe'. Government arts funding body supporting Canadian artists.
- John Lambert & AssociatesminorExclusive representation for Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes, based in Montreal.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Centaur Theatre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Canadian Stage Company: Toronto-based nonprofit presenting company operating multiple venues with season subscriptions, rental income, and government/grant funding. Comparable in multi-venue nonprofit structure and subscriber-led revenue model.
- Soulpepper Theatre Company: Toronto-based nonprofit repertory theatre with subscription programming, season packages, donor-driven funding, and co-production partnerships. Closely comparable Canadian English-language producing model at somewhat larger scale.
- Theatre Calgary: Western-Canadian nonprofit repertory theatre with subscription seasons, donor-funded operations, and co-productions. Comparable in producing model and reliance on a mix of ticket, subscription, grant, and donation revenue.
- Segal Centre for Performing Arts: Montreal-based performing arts venue presenting English-language theatre, music, and film, operating multiple performance spaces. Directly comparable as another Montreal presenting organization serving English-speaking audiences with mixed programming and rental facilities.
- Young People's Theatre: Toronto-based nonprofit theatre focused on youth and family audiences, comparable in its educational outreach programming (paralleling Centaur's Theatre of Tomorrow) and seasonal subscription model.
- Théâtre Denise-Pelletier: Established Montreal Francophone theatre company currently co-producing 'Waiting for Godot' with Centaur. Comparable in scale and nonprofit structure, operating a comparable season-based producing model for the parallel linguistic community.
Broad incumbents
- Shaw Festival: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario repertory theatre with multiple performance spaces, season subscriptions, and donor-funded nonprofit structure. Comparable operating model; Eda Holmes (Centaur's Artistic Director) previously served as Associate Artistic Director at Shaw, evidencing direct talent and operating overlap.
- Stratford Festival: Largest classical repertory theatre in North America, operating multiple venues in Stratford, Ontario. Comparable season subscription, donor, and co-production model but at substantially greater scale and budget.
- National Arts Centre (NAC): Canada's largest performing arts presenter, federally funded and operating multiple halls in Ottawa. Comparable in nonprofit, multi-venue, government-supported structure but operates at significantly larger scale and across more genres.
Regional players
- Geordie Theatre: Montreal-based English-language professional theatre company. A close geographic and linguistic peer operating at somewhat smaller scale; comparable in audience overlap and donor ecosystem in Montreal's Anglophone community.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centaur Theatre social profiles
Digital presenceCentaur Theatre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Centaur Theatre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centaur Theatre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Centaur Theatre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centaur Theatre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centaur Theatre
What does Centaur Theatre do?
Centaur Theatre is a non-profit performing arts organization that produces and presents English-language live theatre in Montreal through two fully equipped performance spaces (Centaur 1 - 241-seat black box; Centaur 2 - 422-seat proscenium with fly tower). Its core offerings include season subscription series of theatrical productions, single ticket sales, facility rentals for theatrical productions and corporate events, and community engagement programs.
Is Centaur Theatre a public or private company?
Centaur Theatre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Centaur Theatre founded?
Centaur Theatre was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Centaur Theatre based?
Centaur Theatre is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Centaur Theatre make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales - Individual is the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions, donations & Fundraising, facility Rental and winterWorks Program Fees.
Who are Centaur Theatre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Canadian Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Theatre Calgary, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Young People's Theatre and Théâtre Denise-Pelletier. Broad incumbents are Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival and National Arts Centre (NAC). Geordie Theatre is listed as a regional player.
Does Centaur Theatre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centaur Theatre.
What industry is Centaur Theatre in?
Centaur Theatre's product category is Live Theatre / Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAB, Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies, with a secondary code of MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses). Its NAICS code is 711110 and its SIC code is 7900.