La Troupe du Jour

What La Troupe du Jour does

La Troupe du Jour is a registered Canadian charity (BN 126604602 RR0001) operating as the sole professional French-language theatre company in Saskatchewan, headquartered at 914 20th Street West in Saskatoon. Founded in 1985 by Alphonse Gaudet, Carmen Gareau, and Michel Quirion as an outgrowth of Ian C. Nelson's 1969 Unithéâtre at the University of Saskatchewan, the organization has produced more than 80 plays, roughly half of which are original Fransaskois creations or adaptations. Its core programmatic pillars are professional theatre productions presented in its own 90-seat Studio 914 venue, Saskatchewan-wide touring shows, educational programs (Theatre School for ages 7–15, school workshops, a script library), artist development (Cercle des Écrivains writers' circle, Carte Blanche residency, Denis Rouleau Bursary), and venue rentals (Studio 914, conference room, multipurpose room). Accessibility infrastructure includes English-language surtitles produced by a human captioning expert and deployed since 2007. The operation runs on six staff plus a seven-member Board of Directors under a co-direction general model (Artistic Director Bruce McKay, Administrative Director Lina Ouaakarrouch).

The revenue model is hybrid and characteristic of a Canadian professional arts charity: ticket sales ($50–$100 season subscriptions, individual show pricing), ancillary earned income from space rentals, theatre school tuition, and the $75 Writers' Circle, layered over a diversified base of multi-government grants from federal (Canada Council for the Arts, Prairies Economic Development Canada, Government of Canada), provincial (Saskatchewan Arts Board, Saskatchewan Lotteries, Saskatchewan Cultural Foundation), municipal (City of Saskatoon), and Fransaskois community (Conseil culturel fransaskois, Fondation fransaskoise) sources, plus charitable donations including a '40K for 40 Years' fundraising campaign and the endowed Ian C. Nelson (LTDJ) Fund. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: direct sales through Studio 914, touring productions, school matinees, online ticketing via TuxedoBillet, and media partnerships (notably Radio-Canada ICI Saskatchewan). The $10 annual membership program is more governance vehicle than commercial channel.

Institutionally, the company has built durable competitive insulation: a 2003 Margaret Woodward Theatre Hall of Fame induction (first theatre company so honoured), 2005 FCCF Hommage, 2010 Henry Woolf Continuing Achievement Award, 2011 Marcus-National Bank Award, association with a 2019 Governor General's Literary Award (Mishka Lavigne's Havre), and ongoing SATA recognition. Recent strategic emphasis has been on endowment-building, co-leadership formalization, cross-Prairie co-productions (Manitoba and Québec partners), and a federally funded expansion of provincial reach, while preserving the 40-year Fransaskois cultural mandate.

Name

La Troupe du Jour

Legal name

La Troupe du Jour

Website

https://latroupedujour.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La Troupe du Jour is Saskatchewan's sole professional French-language theatre company, founded in 1985 in Saskatoon. It produces professional mainstage and touring productions, operates the Studio 914 venue, and runs educational and artist-development programs serving the Fransaskois community across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Theatre Production and Presentation

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Touring Theatre Productions (MPAGABAC), Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Professional french-language theatre
• Fransaskois theatre productions
• Theatre education programs
• Community theatre productions
• Performance venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual show tickets and season subscriptions for professional productions, community shows, and touring performances. Preview performances available at reduced pricing.
2. Space Rentals: Rental income from Studio 914, conference room, and multipurpose room to external organizations and individuals for events, rehearsals, meetings, and performances.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations through campaigns like '40K for 40 Years', the Ian C. Nelson (LTDJ) Fund managed by Fondation fransaskoise, the Bourse Denis Rouleau, and participation in Francothon. Charity number 126604602 RR0001.
4. Membership Fees: Annual membership at $10 per year, providing voting rights at AGM and eligibility to serve on Board of Directors.
5. Theatre School and Workshops: Revenue from theatre school for children ages 7-15, school workshops, and Writers' Circle registration ($75 per year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

La Troupe du Jour creates, produces, and presents professional French-language theatre productions in Saskatchewan, presented at its Studio 914 venue and through provincial touring. The company complements its core productions with theatre education programs (Theatre School for ages 7-15, school workshops, script library), artist development initiatives (Cercle des Écrivains writers' circle, Carte Blanche residency, Denis Rouleau Bursary), and rentable performance and meeting spaces.

Product overview

La Troupe du Jour operates as a single unified theatre organization offering professional French-language theatre productions and community arts programs. The core offering consists of professional theatre productions in Studio 914, supplemented by educational programs (Theatre School for children ages 7-15, school workshops, script library), artist development (Cercle des Écrivains writers' circle, Carte Blanche residency, Denis Rouleau Bursary), and venue rentals (Studio 914 performance space, conference room, multipurpose room). The company also provides accessibility features including English surtitles for French-language productions. All offerings are unified under the company's mission to develop French-language theatre in Saskatchewan through creation, production, training, and presentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Theatre Productions Creation, production, and presentation of professional French-language theatre in Saskatchewan, presented at Studio 914 and on tour. Productions include original plays and adaptations, with English surtitles for accessibility; serves as the only professional Francophone theatre company in the province.
• Studio 914 Venue Rental Performance venue (approximately 34 ft x 40 ft, 11 ft to lighting grid, capacity approximately 90 people) with cyclorama, projector, sprung floor, raised AV booth, backstage area, two dressing rooms, reconfigurable risers, and dance mirrors. Available for rent for performances, rehearsals, and events.
• Theatre School Theatre education program for children ages 7 to 15 developing acting talents and French language skills under the guidance of professional artists, culminating in an end-of-year show at Studio 914.
• Cercle des Écrivains (Writers' Circle) French-language writers' circle meeting ten to twelve times per year under two dramaturgy consultants, with annual registration fee of $75. Writers share work for feedback and participate in writing exercises.
• Carte Blanche Artist Residency Artist residency welcoming established artist-creators or groups to lead theatrical creation laboratories in the Production Centre, with access to performance studio, logistical assistance, and technical personnel support, with preference given to Fransaskois artists.
• School Workshops (Actors of Tomorrow) Workshops for elementary and high school classes introducing students to dramatic arts, including theatre, improvisation, character voices, group creation, dramaturgy writing, and marionnettes; includes school matinees at reduced rates.
• Bourse Denis Rouleau (Denis Rouleau Bursary) Annual $500 bursary awarded to a French-speaking theatre artist to support professional artistic development, with preference given to Fransaskois artists.
• Conference Room Rental Conference room (approximately 24 ft x 18 ft, capacity around 12 people) with built-in screen and projector, natural light, hands-free phone for conference calls, three sliding glass doors, and blinds; available for rent.
• Multipurpose Room Rental Multipurpose space (approximately 27 ft x 21 ft, ceiling height around 20 ft, capacity approximately 40 people) with large skylight, overhead door for loading, and free WiFi; suitable for rehearsals, meetings, events, and set construction.
• Annual Membership Annual membership at $10/year granting voting rights at the AGM and eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors, supporting the organization's mission and Francophone theatre development in Saskatchewan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced over 80 plays since 1985
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Radio-Canada ICI SaskatchewancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Collaboration with Radio-Canada for 40th anniversary celebration on May 30, 2026. Radio-Canada journalists Pascale Bouchard and Manuela Ejake hosting the event. Partnership includes exclusive feature highlighting La Troupe du Jour's history.
• Théâtre des Petites Âmes (QC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Co-presenting '45, de la Taupinière' with La Troupe du Jour (June 6-8, 2026). Partnership for family-oriented theatre production.
• Fondation fransaskoisecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Manages the Ian C. Nelson (LTDJ) Fund supporting long-term development of La Troupe du Jour, including building maintenance, renewal, creation, training, production and presentation of francophone theatre. Also involved in Francothon fundraising campaigns.
• Conseil culturel fransaskois (CCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFransaskois cultural development organization supporting French-language arts and culture in Saskatchewan.
• Family Focus EyecareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Saskatoon business partnering with La Troupe du Jour, visible in partner logo section.
• Flammèche Théâtre (MB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManitoba theatre company presenting 'Cet été qui chantait' in partnership with La Troupe du Jour (April 10-12, 2026). Production by Flammèche Théâtre, presented in partnership with Radio-Canada ICI Saskatchewan.
• Théâtre GaucheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of 'Parler Mal' along with Satellite Théâtre, Théâtre À tour de rôle, and Festival TransAmériques.
• Persephone TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaskatoon theatre company listed as partner and funder for theatrical productions.
• Sum TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaskatoon theatre company that co-produced 'The Hockey Sweater / Le Chandail' with La Troupe du Jour during the pandemic (2021).
• University of SaskatchewanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner. Ian C. Nelson founded Unithéâtre at U of S in 1969. Current collaboration includes Department of Languages partnership for Fransaskois literary conferences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sum Theatre: Saskatoon-based theatre company that co-produced 'Le Chandail' with La Troupe du Jour during the pandemic. Comparable as a fellow Saskatoon theatre with overlapping community-engagement programming and partnership activity.
• Persephone Theatre: English-language professional theatre company based in Saskatoon. Directly comparable as a Saskatoon-based theatre producing professional productions, running educational programming, and operating as a community cultural asset, though serving an English-speaking audience.
• Globe Theatre: Professional regional theatre company based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Comparable as another Saskatchewan-based professional theatre producing season programming, touring, and educational outreach, though operating in English.

Direct peers

• Théâtre français de Toronto: Professional French-language theatre company based in Toronto. Direct peer as another professional French-language theatre serving a Francophone minority community outside Quebec, with comparable production, education, and community programming mandates.
• Théâtre la Seizième: Professional French-language theatre company based in Vancouver, BC. Directly comparable to La Troupe du Jour as one of the small set of professional French-language theatres operating outside Quebec in Western Canada, serving a similar minority Francophone audience with original and touring productions.
• Flammèche Théâtre: Manitoba-based French-language theatre company that has co-produced 'Cet été qui chantait' with La Troupe du Jour (April 2026). Directly comparable as a regional French-language theatre serving a Western Canadian Francophone minority.
• Théâtre de la Vieille 17: Professional French-language theatre company based in Ottawa. Directly comparable as another member of the small network of professional French-language theatres outside Quebec producing original works and community programming.
• Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario: Professional French-language theatre company based in Sudbury, Ontario. Comparable as a longstanding Franco-Ontarian theatre producing original works and touring to French-speaking communities outside Quebec.
• Théâtre l'Escaouette: Professional Acadian French-language theatre company based in Moncton, New Brunswick. Comparable as a regional professional French-language theatre producing original works, touring, and serving a Francophone minority outside Quebec.

Broad incumbents

• Compagnie Jean Duceppe: Established professional French-language theatre company based in Montreal with a much larger scale and Quebec-based audience. Comparable in language and theatrical programming but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a regional minority-focused theatre.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LaTroupeDuJour

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 La Troupe du Jour