Background

Over the past twenty-five years, approximately forty theatre companies catering specifically to young audiences have been established in Montreal and Quebec.

Over the past twenty-five years, approximately forty theatre companies catering specifically to young audiences have been established in Montreal and Quebec. This flurry of development has resulted in Quebec being considered a major creative centre in the milieu. Literature, television and cinema have more recently followed suit. As creators from these disciplines focus their energy on creation for young audiences, supporting the emergence of new styles, Quebec’ s international reputation continues to be consolidated.

In 1990, Ré mi Boucher, at the time Director of the Maison Théâtre, felt there was a need to open a window for young audiences onto the world theatre scene by creating Les Coups de Thé â tre, Forum international des arts jeune public. He travelled extensively to all four corners of the world in search of innovative, contemporary productions aimed at a young public.

The first edition of Les Coups de Thé â tre, which consisted of twelve productions, received an enthusiastic response from the artistic community, the press and the public.
As the years have gone by, the Festival’ s success has not waned. Attendance has continued to grow, as people discover the astonishing creativity of the artists working in this milieu and the unique diversity of the Festival’ s program. Little by little, the editions have continued to improve_– _the number of productions has doubled and conferences and workshops covering all artistic disciplines: dance, music and visual arts, have been added.

Today the International Festival Les Coups de Thé â tre is a reflection of the vitality of creation taking place around the world in the arts for young audiences. Montreal has become an essential crossroads for those looking to understand where the arts for young audiences milieu fits into the ensemble of international dramaturgy.

Institutions such as the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Musée d’ art contemporain de Montréal, Place des Arts, The Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Mexico’s Bellas Artes Museo, Akademie der Kunst in Berlin, among others, have developed partnerships with Les Coups de Thé â tre for the creation and presentation of productions, installations, or large-scale exhibitions.

Numerous productions presented by Les Coups de Thé â tre have been honoured by receiving prizes. In Quebec, Les Coups de Thé â tre has received five Masques from Académie qué becoise du théâtre including Best Production for Young Audiences, and Best Foreign Production.

Ré mi Boucher and the Festival Les Coups de Thé â tre team were chosen in July 2002 to organize the 15th ASSITEJ International World Congress and Festival. Upon his return from Seoul, Ré mi Boucher was named Personality of the Week by the Montreal newspaper La Presse. In the autumn of the same year, the Montreal Council of the Arts declared Les Coups de Thé â tre the winner of its theatre section, after having seen the quality and audacity of its 2002 edition.

In 2005, Les Coups de Thé â tre and ASSITEJ Canada present the World Festival of the Arts for Young Audiences, event of great scale which, from the 20 to September 30, celebrates the audacity and the vitality of arts for children and young people.

The International Festival Les Coups de Thé â tre is presented every two years. Its offices are located in Montreal at Usine C.