Just as the Montreal English-language theatre scene is wrapping up its 2025-2026 season, it is also looking ahead and unveiling what local theatergoers can expect in 2026-2027.
It all happened at the annual MTL Launch event, held on May 5 at the Conseil des Arts de Montréal building on Sherbrooke Street East. Emceed by Sarah Deshaies, host of CKUT’s Upstage program, the MTL Launch featured the unveiling of programming by six Montreal English-language theatre companies, which promises plays that are going to be filled with bold new stories of empowerment, uplifting marginalized voices and fostering the sense of community through cultural exchange.
Repercussion Theatre
Repercussion Theatre announced the launch of its Shakespeare in the Park summer tour, which will feature the Bard’s play The Winter’s Tale. Only this time, this drama about a society that rebuilds itself after the fall of a tyrant will take a neo-futuristic approach; the tour will run from July 21 – August 15 in selected public parks across Montreal. Repercussion will go indoors later in the season with Swashbuckling at the Centaur Theatre, which will examine the love/hate relationship of those action-filled swordfighting scenes on both the stage and screen.
Infinitheatre and Talisman Theatre
This upcoming season, Infinitheatre and Talisman Theatre will join forces to present the English-language premiere of Noli (February 15-28, 2027). The play is about a daycare worker who falls in love with an erotic audio app. It also deals with such themes as sexuality, intimacy and searching for one’s real self. As well, Infinitheatre continues its Write Now and Write on Q competitions, its Artists in Residence program, the annual Park N Play event on September 26, and the French-language production of last year’s hit play Whalefall.
Imago Theatre
Imago Theatre will kick off their season at the Centaur Theatre from October 1-10 with the world premiere of The Sound of Dogs, which has been selected as the Centaur’s Brave New Looks play for 2026. The production takes a look at Deaf culture, and will combine American Sign Language, spoken English, movement and a digital landscape in order to increase awareness of the world of Deaf culture. Imago will also present Akuteu (January 27-February 6, 2027), which focuses on a young Innu woman who navigates a predominantly white society, while trying to explore her own identity as an Indigenous person.
Geordie Theatre stages stories that move
Geordie Theatre director Jim Blais (left) unveiling its 2026-27 Season. photo by Stuart Nulman
Geordie Theatre’s theme for its 46th season is “Stories That Move“, and its 2026-2027 line-up will certainly deliver plenty of that. Their annual school tour (September 26, 2026-May 27, 2027) will present Nohkom’s Knick Knacks (elementary) and Hooligan Theory (high school). Geordie will also inaugurate its new “Geordie After Dark” series this March, to prove that their acclaimed stage productions are not just for students only; their first production will be Horseplay at the Centaur Theatre. And Geordie will be going national with the play Jordan about Jordan River Anderson and his fight for Indigenous children to receive the same standard of health and social services as the rest of the population of Canada. The play will go on the road with performances in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.
Black Theatre Workshop
The Black Theatre Workshop is about to embark upon its 56th season under the theme of “Tete a Tete,” with productions and programs that will hopefully evoke conversations and exchanges regarding the realities of Black identity. They hope to accomplish this goal by remounting their production, Taking Care of Maman, in both English and French, as they will tour the play at schools and seniors’ residences in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.
For more information about the theatre companies and their shows that were highlighted at the MTL Launch, consult the website of community partner the Quebec Drama Federation (QDF) and their digital calendar at quebecdrama.org.
words and images by Stuart Nulman
