National Theatre School of Canada Celebrates 65 Years of Shaping Canadian Theatre

Iconic institution marks milestone anniversary with performances, festivals, and a benefit gala

Toronto ON — The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is celebrating its 65th anniversary, marking more than six decades as the country’s leading institution for professional theatre training. Founded in 1960, NTS has been at the forefront of Canadian stagecraft, launching the careers of acclaimed artists and shaping the nation’s cultural landscape.

The anniversary season runs from October 2025 through May 2026, culminating in a 65th Anniversary Benefit Gala on May 5, 2026, at Montreal’s Monument-National.

Training Generations of Canadian Talent

For 65 years, NTS has trained actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and production professionals whose impact reaches far beyond Canadian stages. Its alumni include international stars Sandra Oh, Colm Feore, Seana McKenna, Wajdi Mouawad, Hannah Moscovitch, Noah Reid, Sholem Dolgoy, and Monica Esteves, among many others.

“Since 1960, NTS has supported the artists who transform our stages and our society,” said Fanny Pagé, CEO of NTS. “This 65th anniversary is an invitation to carry forward this essential mission with conviction: to support those who dare to question the world through art, to train, inspire, and bring together the artists of tomorrow.”

A Season of Productions and Milestones

This anniversary year will feature more than 15 student productions, including two for young audiences:

• A revival of The Neverending Story, directed by Jovanni Sy and performed by the graduating class of the English Section.

• A French Section tour bringing theatre directly to elementary schools.

In addition, NTS continues to champion DramaFest, Canada’s largest English-language youth theatre festival. The Ontario edition (formerly the Sears Drama Festival) celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025, engaging thousands of high school students and inspiring future generations of theatre artists.

A National Treasure

“The National Theatre School is one of a kind in Canada. It is a true national treasure — both a laboratory and a home for theatre artists and their art,” said Thomas Morgan Jones, Executive Artistic Director of the English Section.

Frédéric Dubois, Executive Director of the French Section, added: “The School offers more than training; it is a space of resistance and joy, where new voices and ideas emerge to challenge and reimagine our society.”

Beyond the Classroom

With campuses at the Saint-Denis Pavilion and the Monument-National in Montreal, NTS offers nine professional training programs in both English and French. Each year, more than 400 teaching artists contribute to its curriculum, ensuring the school reflects Canada’s diverse and evolving theatre ecosystem.

NTS also supports the future of theatre through artist residencies, Indigenous arts initiatives guided by the Indigenous Advisory Circle, and community programs that spark dialogue and inclusion. Its Famille Bleviss Library, housing more than 100,000 documents, remains Canada’s most comprehensive theatre collection.

Looking Forward

With 156 students currently enrolled and a growing alumni network influencing theatre worldwide, NTS’s 65th anniversary is both a moment of reflection and a call to sustain its mission for decades to come.

For more information, including the alumni directory, visit alumni.ent-nts.ca/alumni-directory.

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