Théâtre Desjardins

What Théâtre Desjardins does

Théâtre Desjardins is a private, multi-venue performing arts center located at 1111 rue Lapierre in the LaSalle borough of Montreal, Quebec. Operating since the early 1990s, it functions as the largest live performance venue in the southwest of Montreal Island, with a main hall (Salle Jean-Grimaldi) of 813 seats (or 314 in half-salle configuration), a cabaret space of approximately 110 seats (Cabaret sur Scène), and additional modular rental spaces (Studio 1111, Salle des pas perdus) used for conferences, galas, and corporate events. The venue presents a diversified programming slate spanning theater, comedy (humour), chanson, music, dance, family shows, the Les Grands Explorateurs travel film series, and the Ciné-Clap Francophone cinema series, plus a dedicated Scolaire stream targeting students from CPE/Garderie through Secondary 5.

The business model rests on five revenue streams: (1) individual ticket sales through the Tuxedo Billet online platform, in-person box office, and telephone sales, with prices ranging from approximately $20 to $136 CAD depending on production and seat category; (2) season subscriptions offered in three tiers ($205 for 4 plays, $285 for 6 plays, $395 for 9 plays); (3) gift cards and prepaid cinema cards (5 films for $36 CAD) with no expiration; (4) venue rental income from external promoters and corporate event organizers; and (5) dedicated school group sales managed by an internal sales team. The venue's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, supplemented by partnerships with Quebec touring networks (Diffusion Inter-centres, La danse sur les routes du Québec, En piste) and co-presentations with regional sponsors and the Arrondissement LaSalle.

The institution is anchored by a naming-rights partnership with Desjardins Group (Canada's largest cooperative financial group) and a founding-partner relationship with co-located Cégep André-Laurendeau. Public funding flows from Patrimoine Canada, the Gouvernement du Québec, SODEC, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), and the Conseil des arts de Montréal. The theater employs 11-50 staff, has held Silver-level Scène écoresponsable certification since November 2023, and operates with no public revenue disclosure, no outside funding rounds, and no parent company.

Name

Théâtre Desjardins

Legal name

Théâtre Desjardins

Website

https://theatredesjardins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Théâtre Desjardins is the largest performing arts venue in southwest Montreal, operating an 813-seat main hall plus cabaret and event spaces. It serves Montreal-area consumers, school groups, and corporate renters via ticketed theater, comedy, music, and film programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Live performance venue
• Performing arts center
• Season subscriptions
• Venue rental services
• Cultural entertainment programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales (individual performances): Single-ticket purchases for theatrical productions, concerts, comedy shows, cinema screenings (Ciné-Clap), and Les Grands Explorateurs travel film series. Prices range from approximately $20 to $136 depending on the show and seat category.
2. Season subscriptions: Theater subscription packages offering 9, 6, or 4 plays per season at discounted bundled rates ($395, $285, and $205 respectively). Includes member card benefits and fixed seating priority.
3. Gift cards and prepaid cards: Gift cards (Carte Cadeau) and prepaid cinema cards (Carte prépayée Cinéma — 5 films for $36) sold in-person, online, or by phone. Cards are valid for unlimited duration on performances, memberships, and cinema cards.
4. Venue rental and event services: The theater rents its spaces (Salle Jean-Grimaldi, Cabaret sur scène, Studio 1111, bar, classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria) to external organizers for events including conferences, galas, and performances. Revenue generated through facility rental fees.
5. School programming sales: Dedicated school performances targeting students from CPE/Garderie through Secondary 5. Tickets sold to educational institutions for age-appropriate performances with optional preparatory classroom workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Théâtre Desjardins is a multi-venue performing arts center that presents and sells tickets to live theater, comedy, chanson, music, dance, family, school, and film programming across its 813-seat Salle Jean-Grimaldi, ~110-seat Cabaret sur Scène, Studio 1111, and Salle des pas perdus. It also operates as a rental venue for external event organizers and producers, and sells ancillary products including season subscriptions, gift cards, prepaid cinema cards, and member cards. The venue serves both individual consumers and organizational clients (schools, corporations) in the greater Montreal area.

Product overview

Théâtre Desjardins is a multi-venue performing arts center located in LaSalle, Montreal, operating as a single unified venue with multiple performance spaces and service offerings. The facility comprises four distinct venues: Salle Jean Grimaldi (813/314 seats), Cabaret sur Scène (~110 seats), Studio 1111/Salle de réception 1.246 (100-230 capacity), and Salle des pas perdus (200-300 capacity), plus an on-site bar. The theater presents a diverse programming portfolio spanning theatrical productions, musical performances (chanson/concert), comedy shows, the travel documentary series Les Grands Explorateurs, the Francophone film series Ciné-Clap, and annual events including the Festival Drôle d'oiseau comedy festival. Additional offerings include educational/school programming, gift cards, prepaid cinema cards, and venue rental services for external events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Season Subscriptions (Abonnements Théâtre) Annual season subscription packages offering 9, 6, or 4 plays per season at $395, $285, and $205 CAD respectively, with member card benefits and fixed-seat priority access for theater subscribers.
• Carte de membre (Membership card) Annual membership providing per-ticket discounts (approximately $2-$4 CAD off) on individual show purchases, plus access to member benefits across the theater's programming.
• Carte Cadeau (Gift card) Variable-denomination gift cards purchasable online, in-person, or by phone. Redeemable for performances, memberships, subscriptions, and Ciné-Clap cards with no expiration.
• Ciné-Clap Prepaid Cinema Card (Carte prépayée Cinéma) Prepaid card providing 5 film screenings in the Ciné-Clap Francophone film series for $36 CAD, with unlimited validity. Films selectable from current and future programming.
• Les Grands Explorateurs (Travel film series) Travel documentary film series presented by Théâtre Desjardins featuring cinematic presentations by explorers and filmmakers screening destinations worldwide, shown in the main venue.
• Ciné-Clap (Francophone film series) Francophone film screening series presented in collaboration with Association des Cinémas parallèles du Québec, showing films on Monday evenings.
• Festival Drôle d'oiseau Annual comedy festival hosted and presented at Théâtre Desjardins featuring diverse humor performances.
• Scolaire Programming (School performances) Educational programming for school groups including age-appropriate theatrical performances, preparatory classroom workshops, and curriculum-linked cultural activities for students from CPE/Garderie through Secondary 5.
• Salle et Location Rentals (Venue rental) Venue rental services for external events including corporate events, galas, conferences, and private functions across Salle Jean-Grimaldi, Cabaret sur Scène, Studio 1111, Salle des pas perdus, and the on-site bar.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 Quebec spectators and 19 million global admissions for the 'Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au bon dieu' production
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Café NapoléonminorOthers · 19 July 2024Supplier partner providing organic and fair-trade coffee (bio et équitable) for the theater's bar and café services as part of the ecoresponsible sourcing policy.
• Desjardins GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesjardins is the Grand Partner of Théâtre Desjardins. The theater carries the Desjardins name and operates 'De concert avec Desjardins.' Desjardins is the largest cooperative financial group in Canada and provides primary naming rights and sponsorship support for the venue.
• Cégep André-LaurendeaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCégep André-Laurendeau is a founding partner (partenaire fondateur) and co-located educational institution. The theater is situated on or adjacent to the college campus, and shares the Salle des pas perdus and other spaces. The college also provides urban beekeeping (Apiculture Cégep André-Laurendeau) as a supplier partner.
• Arrondissement LaSallemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe borough of LaSalle is a public partner, co-presenting select shows (e.g., Marianne Trudel and the Orchestre national de Jazz de Montréal; Un nuage dans mon ventre) and supporting the theater's community programming.
• Patrimoine Canada (Canadian Heritage)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government cultural funding partner providing financial support for the theater's operations and programming as part of its public partners tier.
• SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec's cultural enterprise development agency and public funding partner supporting the theater's artistic programming.
• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec arts and letters council, a public funding partner supporting the theater's cultural and artistic activities.
• Conseil des arts de MontréalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontreal arts council providing public funding support to the theater as a local arts and culture organization.
• Garage Roger VaillancourtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Partenaire de série' (series sponsor) for the 2026/2027 season, providing marketing or financial support for specific programming series.
• Hydro-QuébecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a 'Partenaire de série' (series sponsor) for the 2026/2027 season. Hydro-Québec is Quebec's public electricity utility.
• ACPQ (Association des Cinémas parallèles du Québec)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic partner supporting the Ciné-Clap programming series. The ACPQ collaborates on parallel cinema distribution and programming.
• CQM (Council for the Quebec Mitt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic partner supporting theater programming and artistic productions.
• Diffusion Inter-centresminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTouring and distribution partner; the theater joined the Diffusion Inter-centres network in February 2022 to facilitate the touring and circulation of performances.
• La danse sur les routes du QuébecminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDance touring and distribution network, listed as an artistic partner helping circulate dance productions to the theater.
• En pisteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuebec circus arts industry organization, listed as an artistic partner supporting circus programming at the theater.
• Petite-Vallée (Théâtre de la Mer),minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThéâtre de la Mer in Petite-Vallée entered into a partnership with Théâtre Desjardins announced on July 19, 2024, for artistic collaboration and programming exchange.
• PollifloraminorOthersSupplier partner providing flowers and floral products sourced from local suppliers, supporting the theater's ecoresponsible food and beverage program.
• La TransformerieminorOthersSupplier partner providing food products from a local ecoresponsible enterprise, part of the theater's sustainable sourcing initiative.
• Cirka DistilleriesminorOthersSupplier partner providing locally produced beverages (spirits) for the theater bar, part of the ecoresponsible local sourcing program.
• Café EvizaminorOthersSupplier partner providing coffee products as part of the ecoresponsible café and bar program.
• Bocci RestaurantminorOthersLocal restaurant partner in LaSalle. Members receive discounts with their card, or ticket holders receive restaurant discounts upon presenting their show ticket, as part of the 'Partenaires gourmands' program.
• Scores LaSalleminorOthersLocal sports bar and restaurant partner in LaSalle offering member discounts as part of the 'Partenaires gourmands' program.
• Carrefour AngrignonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShopping center listed as a season partner, likely providing marketing or community outreach support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Place des Arts (Montréal): Montréal's flagship performing arts complex comprising Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe, and multiple smaller halls. Directly comparable as a multi-venue presenting/booking operation serving similar Quebec francophone audiences across theater, music, dance, and cinema.
• Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM): Long-established Montréal francophone producing theater with its own 800-seat venue, presenting season subscriptions and school programs. Direct overlap in theater programming model, subscription mechanics, and Quebec theater audience.
• Segal Centre for Performing Arts: Montréal multi-purpose performing arts venue presenting theater, music, and family programming with a fixed main hall and ancillary spaces. Directly comparable as a single-site presenter of mixed-genre performing arts programming.
• TOHU: Montréal venue in the Saint-Michel area presenting circus, theater, dance, and family programming with a fixed-seat hall and ancillary rental spaces. Comparable scale and similar presenting-touring-supporting operating model.
• Centaur Theatre: Montréal's English-language producing theater operating its own venue with subscription seasons, school outreach, and rental/event hosting. Comparable venue operator with similar revenue mix of tickets, subscriptions, and space rentals.
• Théâtre de Quat'Sous: Independent Montréal theater presenting a season of contemporary productions with subscription, single-ticket, and school-program offerings. Comparable producing-presenting theater business model within the same city.
• Monument-National: Historic Montréal theater in the Quartier des spectacles hosting theater, comedy, dance, and cinema programming with associated studio/rehearsal rental. Comparable presenting-touring model and Quebec touring-network participation.

Regional players

• National Arts Centre (Ottawa): Canada's national presenting venue for performing arts across multiple halls (Southam Hall, Babs Asper Theatre). Comparable presenting/booking operating model with federal public-funding backing but at much larger national-government-funded scale.
• Canadian Stage: Toronto-based presenter of theater, dance, and music across multiple venues (Bluma Appel, Berkeley Street). Comparable multi-venue presenting model but operating in a different Canadian metropolitan market.

Broad incumbents

• Maison symphonique de Montréal: Montréal concert hall operated by the Orchestre métropolitain presenting orchestral and large-format music events. Comparable in scale, geographic market, and public-funding posture though specialized in concert presentation rather than mixed-genre programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Théâtre Desjardins