Théâtre de la Vieille 17

What Théâtre de la Vieille 17 does

Théâtre de la Vieille 17 is a professional French-language theatre company founded in September 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and registered as a charity under business number 103311460 RR0001. Operating for over 45 years, the company creates, produces, and tours original theatrical productions for both adult and youth audiences, with a current portfolio of four main productions under its 2025-2026 'KINTSUGI' season (Le Volcan, Nzinga, Comme des bruissements, La nuit du Caribou). The company is one of four founding resident companies at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins in Ottawa, alongside Théâtre du Trillium, Vox Théâtre, and Théâtre Catapulte, giving it embedded venue access. It also runs the Bourse RÉVERBÈRE $8,000 creation grant, an artist support fund, free school matinee programming for Ontario French-language schools (grades 2-5), and a free childcare animation service (L'heure du conte et du brico) for children aged 5-12 during adult performances.

The organization is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors (with Carolyn Lecorre as President since January 2026) and led by Artistic Director and Co-Managing Director Geneviève Pineault (in role since July 2020) and Producer and Co-Managing Director Sara Ben-Saud. It maintains a lean staff of approximately six core personnel supplemented by artistic associates and contract creatives. The company has no proprietary technology platform; its product surface is live, human-driven theatrical performance and community cultural mediation.

Revenue is derived from four streams: ticket sales through a flexible 'Tarif Découverte' (Free) to 'Tarif Solidarité' ($50 CAD) tiered pricing model at the La Nouvelle Scène box office; institutional grants from Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Heritage Canada, City of Ottawa, and TD Foundation; individual donations via Zeffy and CanadaHelps; and artist-support fund contributions. Distribution runs through the home venue box office, school matinee bookings, festival presentations (Ottawa Fringe, NAC Big Bang), pan-territorial programming via ATFC's Aurores théâtrales, and touring circuits across Ontario, Canada, and internationally (with the 2026/2027 season activating touring for Le Volcan and others).

Name

Théâtre de la Vieille 17

Legal name

Théâtre de la Vieille 17

Website

https://vieille17.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Théâtre de la Vieille 17 is a professional French-language theatre company founded in 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario, producing original adult and youth productions, school matinees, artist grants, and community cultural-mediation programs, with revenue from ticket sales, government arts funding, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts (Live Theatre)

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• French language theatre
• Theatrical productions
• Performing arts
• Cultural mediation
• Live theatre performance

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for theatre performances at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins. Flexible pricing tiers from free to $50.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Registered charity (103311460RR0001) accepting donations for programming and artist support fund. Tax receipts issued for donations of $25 or more.
3. Government and Foundation Funding: Core funding from Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Heritage Canada, City of Ottawa, and TD Foundation for operations and programming.
4. Artist Support Fund: Bourse RÉVERBÈRE creation grant ($8,000) and artist support fund for production teams funded through donor contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Théâtre de la Vieille 17 is a professional French-language theatre company that creates, produces, and presents original theatrical productions for both adult and youth audiences. Its portfolio includes mainstage productions (Le Volcan, Nzinga, Comme des bruissements), youth productions (La nuit du Caribou), school matinees, cultural mediation projects, a free children's animation service, and artist support grants. Performances are staged at the shared La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins venue in Ottawa and toured regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Product overview

Théâtre de la Vieille 17 is a professional French-language theatre company based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in September 1979. The organization creates, produces, and tours theatrical productions for both youth and adult audiences. Its portfolio includes four current main productions (Le Volcan, Nzinga, Comme des bruissements, La nuit du Caribou), complemented by community services such as 'L'heure du conte et du brico' (free child animation during adult performances), school morning programs, and artist support initiatives including the Bourse RÉVERBÈRE grant ($8,000) and a support fund for team members with caregiving or accessibility needs. The company operates from La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins and has created over seventy original productions in its 45+ year history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fonds d'appui aux artistes: Artist support fund with two components: the RÉVERBÈRE creation bursary ($8,000) for theatrical projects and an artist support fund for technical and artistic team members who are parents, caregivers, or have special needs.
• KINTSUGI
• L'heure du conte et du brico

Products and services

• Le Volcan A psychological thriller production exploring themes of buried secrets and domestic violence, set at Mount St. Helens in 1980. For adult audiences (16+). Duration: 75 minutes.
• Nzinga A theatrical saga in the style of African griots, exploring the parallel journeys of Queen Nzinga and artist Tatiana Zinga Botao. Coproduction with Centre du Théâtre d'Aujourd'hui and Théâtre de La Sentinelle. For adult audiences (16+). Duration: 65 minutes.
• Comme des bruissements A multisensory theatrical experience combining activist narratives, poetic gestures, and moments of sharing, exploring ecologist and ecofeminist struggles. Coproduction with Voyageurs immobiles and Théâtre Rouge Écarlate. For adult audiences (16+). Duration: 75 minutes.
• La nuit du Caribou A puppet theatre production for young audiences (ages 6+) telling the story of a child searching for a caribou and finding friendship along the way. Co-presentation with Vox Théâtre and production by Théâtre de la Petite Marée. Duration: 55 minutes.
• School Morning Performances (Représentations scolaires) School matinee performances offering young audiences access to theatre productions, with curriculum-aligned educational materials and post-show discussions. Targeted at grades 2-5 in Ontario French-language schools.
• L'heure du conte et du brico A free child animation service for children ages 5-12 offered during adult theatre performances on Saturday afternoons, allowing parents to attend shows while their children participate in storytelling, crafts, and games. 12 children's spots available per session.
• Bourse RÉVERBÈRE An $8,000 creation grant supporting theatrical projects in the Ottawa-Gatineau region that promote cultural diversity, gender equality, social justice, and accessibility. Part of the Artist Support Fund (Fonds d'appui aux artistes).
• Fonds de soutien aux artistes (Artist Support Fund) Financial support fund for artistic and technical team members who are parents, caregivers, or have specific needs, providing up to $300 per person per season for expenses such as transportation, childcare, and accessibility services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 original theatre productions created since 1979
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• La Nouvelle Scène Gilles DesjardinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared venue and production partnership where La Vieille 17 is one of four founding resident companies (with Théâtre du Trillium, Vox Théâtre, Théâtre Catapulte) that collectively manage the venue and programming since 1999. The venue is a centre for creation and dissemination of arts.
• VOX ThéâtremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation partner for youth productions including La nuit du Caribou. Fellow Ottawa-based French-language theatre company.
• Centre du Théâtre d'Aujourd'huimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Nzinga, one of Quebec's major theatre institutions producing and presenting contemporary theatre.
• Théâtre de La SentinellemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Nzinga, Montreal-based theatre company focused on cultural diversity.
• Voyageurs immobilesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Comme des bruissements, creation company involved in the theatrical experience.
• Théâtre Rouge ÉcarlatemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Comme des bruissements, Ottawa-based theatre company.
• Théâtre de la Petite MaréemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company for La nuit du Caribou, a puppet theatre production for young audiences.
• Librairie du SoleilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for children's programming advice for L'heure du conte et du brico service, providing literary guidance for youth content.
• Service à l'enfance AladinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildcare service partner for L'heure du conte et du brico program providing professional oversight for children's activities during adult performances.
• Théâtre du Nouvel-OntariomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in intergenerational mediation project Un beau souvenir d'été, based in Sudbury, collaborating on community arts projects.
• Théâtre français de TorontomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in intergenerational mediation project Un beau souvenir d'été, collaborating on pan-Ontario arts projects.
• Alliance Française d'OttawaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter with Ottawa Fringe Festival for theatre programming, supporting French-language theatre exposure.
• Ottawa Fringe FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival partner for theatre presentations including co-presentation of shows with Alliance Française.
• National Arts Centre / Centre National des ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Big Bang Festival and partner for Les sons du rien musical theatre project. Previously coproduction partner for Un conte de l'apocalypse.
• Éditions Prise de paroleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher partnership for Le volcan text publication and launch event.
• Théâtre CatapultemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow founding resident company at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins, co-presenting shows and sharing venue management.
• Théâtre du TrilliummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow founding resident company at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins, co-presenting shows and sharing venue management.
• Fâcheux ThéâtremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for Souviens-toi de la révolution with La Vieille 17 and Théâtre français de Toronto.
• Association des theatres francophone du Canada (ATFC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for pan-territorial theatre programming, facilitating access to theatre for northern communities through Aurores théâtrales program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Théâtre français de Toronto: Toronto-based professional French-language theatre and partner in the intergenerational mediation project Un beau souvenir d'été; comparable as a Franco-Ontarian professional theatre producing original works and engaging communities.
• Centre du Théâtre d'Aujourd'hui: Montreal-based major French-language theatre institution and coproduction partner for Nzinga; comparable as a contemporary French-language producing house with similar artistic ambitions around social themes.
• Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario: Sudbury-based French-language theatre partner in La Vieille 17's intergenerational mediation project; operates with a similar mandate of creation, production, and community outreach in Northern Ontario.
• Théâtre de La Sentinelle: Montreal-based French-language theatre focused on cultural diversity, coproduction partner on Nzinga; comparable in scale and mission around contemporary French-language creation and diverse storytelling.

Direct peers

• Théâtre du Trillium: Ottawa-based French-language theatre company sharing venue management and co-presentation responsibilities with La Vieille 17 at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins; operates with a similar mandate of producing and presenting French-language theatre in Ontario.
• Théâtre Rouge Écarlate: Ottawa-based French-language theatre company and coproduction partner on Comme des bruissements; directly comparable as a small Franco-Ontarian production house creating original works and engaging in co-productions.
• Fâcheux Théâtre: Coproduction partner on Souviens-toi de la révolution with La Vieille 17 and Théâtre français de Toronto; directly comparable as a French-language theatre company engaged in co-productions across Ontario/Quebec.
• Vox Théâtre: Fellow Ottawa-based French-language theatre company and co-presentation partner for youth productions such as La nuit du Caribou; one of the four founding resident companies at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Théâtre Catapulte: Ottawa-based French-language theatre and co-founder of La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins; directly comparable as a peer resident company producing original French-language works and touring productions.
• Voyageurs immobiles: Quebec-based creation company and coproduction partner for Comme des bruissements; comparable as a small French-language production house collaborating on multisensory theatrical experiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LaVieille17
• Instagraminstagram.com/vieille_17
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-de-la-vieille-17

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

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 de la Vieille 17