The National Theatre School of Canada marks its 65th anniversary with a year-long celebration honouring its legacy of training and transforming generations of theatre artists. From Sandra Oh to Wajdi Mouawad, NTS continues to shape the national and global performing arts landscape.
This fall marks a major milestone for Canadian theatre. The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS), one of the country’s most esteemed performing arts institutions, celebrates its 65th anniversary—a testament to its enduring influence on Canada’s cultural and creative landscape. Since its founding in 1960, NTS has been the beating heart of theatre education in Canada, producing generations of artists whose work resonates from coast to coast and across the world.
The 65th anniversary celebrations will run from October 2025 to May 2026, culminating in a Benefit Gala at Montreal’s Monument-National on May 5, 2026. The milestone offers not only a chance to reflect on the school’s rich history but also to reaffirm its role as a creative catalyst shaping the future of Canadian theatre.
A legacy of training and transformation
For over six decades, NTS has been home to the country’s most talented actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and production professionals. Its alumni list reads like a who’s who of Canadian stage and screen: Sandra Oh, Colm Feore, Seana McKenna, Wajdi Mouawad, Hannah Moscovitch, Noah Reid, Sholem Dolgoy, and Monica Esteves are among the countless artists whose journeys began within the school’s walls.
Each generation of NTS graduates has redefined the boundaries of Canadian storytelling, creating work that reflects the country’s linguistic, cultural, and artistic diversity. With campuses in Montreal offering bilingual training in both English and French, NTS continues to serve as a bridge between traditions, ideas, and artistic innovation.
“Since 1960, NTS has supported the artists who transform our stages and our society,” said CEO Fanny Pagé. “Even in a fragile cultural landscape, it remains a unique space where tradition and boldness meet—a place that inspires new voices and new ways of storytelling.”
A season of creative discovery
The 2025–2026 academic year will spotlight the talent of current NTS students through more than 15 productions, including two special works for young audiences. The graduating English Section will present The Neverending Story, directed by Jovanni Sy, while the French Section will take a touring production to elementary schools. These performances embody NTS’s philosophy of hands-on learning—where artistic practice meets professional rigour and imagination.
At the same time, NTS continues to nurture future generations through DramaFest, the country’s largest youth theatre festival in English. As its Ontario edition (formerly the Sears Drama Festival) marks its 80th year, the festival continues to inspire thousands of high school students to embrace creativity, teamwork, and self-expression through the arts.
Beyond the classroom: Building Canada’s theatre future
NTS’s impact extends far beyond its stages. The school’s nine professional programs, led by over 400 teaching artists annually, are complemented by artist residencies, Indigenous arts initiatives, and community-based programs that reflect the evolving face of Canadian theatre.
“The National Theatre School is both a laboratory and a home for theatre artists,” said Thomas Morgan Jones, Executive Artistic Director of the English Section. “It stands on the shoulders of generations of creators, ready to re-engage with this generation and all those to come.”
Meanwhile, the French Section continues to lead conversations about artistic freedom and social relevance. “Making theatre in 2025 is an act of resistance against the emptiness of slogans that flatten thought and homogenize stories,” said Frédéric Dubois, Executive Director of the French Section. “The School’s flexible and individualized approach represents a rare form of rebellion through joy.”
By the numbers
To understand the scope of NTS’s influence, one only needs to look at its footprint:
- 2 campuses — Saint-Denis Pavilion and the historic Monument-National in Montreal
- 9 professional training programs across performance, direction, design, playwriting, and production
- 20+ public courses fostering community engagement
- 156 students currently enrolled in professional programs
- 400+ teaching artists collaborating each year
- 100,000+ documents preserved in the Famille Bleviss Library—the most comprehensive theatre collection in Canada
Carrying the torch forward
As NTS steps into its 65th year, it does so with the same commitment to innovation and inclusion that defined its founding vision. From championing emerging artists to providing accessible community programs, the School remains a vital cultural pillar dedicated to cultivating artistry that challenges, inspires, and unites.
Its anniversary season is more than a look back—it is an invitation to imagine the next 65 years of Canadian theatre. The NTS legacy continues to live through every student stepping on stage, every story told in two languages, and every creative spark that redefines what theatre can be in Canada and beyond.
For more information and the full alumni directory, visit: https://alumni.ent-nts.ca/alumni-directory
About the National Theatre School of Canada
Founded in 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is the country’s foremost institution for theatre training in English and French. It continues to nurture Canada’s next generation of theatre professionals through education, community engagement, and artistic exploration.
