The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS), the country’s premier institution for theatre training, proudly marks its 65th Anniversary this fall. Founded in 1960, NTS has been at the heart of Canadian theatre for over six decades, training generations of artists whose influence extends coast-to-coast-to-coast, nationally and internationally.

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

For 65 years, NTS has been the launchpad for actors, directors, playwrights, designers, and production professionals. Its alumni include luminaries such as Sandra Oh, Colm Feore, Seana McKenna, Wajdi Mouawad, Hannah Moscovitch, Noah Reid, Sholem Dolgoy and Monica Esteves — alongside hundreds of emerging artists who continue to define Canadian theatre today.

This season, NTS students will bring their own creative journeys to the stage with more than 15 productions, including two for young audiences: a revival of the classic The Neverending Story by the graduating class of the English Section, directed by Jovanni Sy, and a French Section tour of elementary schools. In parallel, NTS continues to champion DramaFest — the country’s largest youth theatre festival in English — as its Ontario edition (former Sears Drama Festival) celebrates an extraordinary 80th anniversary, sparking the imaginations of thousands of high school students and inspiring the next generation of theatre artists

“Since 1960, NTS has supported the artists who transform our stages and our society. Even in a fragile cultural landscape, it remains a unique space where tradition and boldness meet, a place of learning and creation that inspires new voices and new ways of storytelling. 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.” — Fanny Pagé, CEO of NTS

“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. It was founded in a spirit of innovation, experimentation, and commitment: commitment to giving voice to artists, to exploring with insatiable curiosity, and to revealing potential. In 2025, the School stands on the shoulders of generations of artists, ready to re-engage with this generation and all those to come.” — Thomas Morgan Jones, Executive Artistic Director of the English Section and Director of the Directing Program

“The National Theatre School is entirely dedicated to theatre. It offers a comprehensive education that makes it a true hub of research, pedagogy, and art. Its mission goes beyond training students; it is a unique space for reflection for all the artists who work here and who are invested in the evolution of their practice. Together, they are the canaries in the coal mine. Because making theatre in 2025 is an act of resistance against the emptiness of the world’s slogans that flatten thought and homogenize stories. The School, with its individualized and flexible approach, is a rare example of rebellion in the JOY that is necessary — not only artistically, but also as citizens.” — Frédéric Dubois, Executive Director of the French Section and Director of the Interprétation Program

A Legacy of Training and Transformation

Since its founding in 1960, NTS has welcomed students from across the country to its Montreal campuses, offering training in both English and French. Each year, more than 400 teaching artists collaborate with the School, ensuring programs reflect the diversity, creativity, and evolving stories of Canada’s theatre ecosystem.

Beyond the Classroom: Building Canada’s Theatre Future

Alongside professional training across nine programs, NTS fosters the future of theatre through artist residencies, Indigenous arts initiatives supported by the Indigenous Advisory Circle, and community programs that spark dialogue and open space for bold, inclusive visions of the future.

By the Numbers:

Two campuses: the Saint-Denis Pavilion and the Monument-National, both in Montreal

9 professional training programs in theatre

20+ recreational courses open to the public

156 students currently enrolled in professional programs

400+ teaching artists engaged each year

The Famille Bleviss Library preserves more than 100,000 documents — the most comprehensive theatre collection in Canada

For a complete list of NTS graduates, visit the Alumni Directory: alumni.ent-nts.ca.