Mission and vision
Théâtre la Seizième is the main French language, professional theatre company in British Columbia. Since it was created in 1974, la Seizième has produced and presented nearly one hundred inspiring and hard-hitting works of theatre, garnering more than eighty nominations and prizes.
The company’s work is aimed at Francophones and Francophiles of all ages and includes seasons for both adult and young audiences, a series of theatre workshops in schools and a program that provides training, professional development and playwriting support for artists.
Every year, la Seizième reaches more than 30,000 Canadians.
Values
Passion — We are passionate about the performing arts! This passion energizes us and inspires us to push our limits and to bring both rigour and creativity to the work we do every day. It keeps us engaged and shines through in everything we undertake.
Openness — Our artistic projects are at the centre of our ongoing dialogue with our audiences, our artistic collaborators, and the public at large. Our company aims to be a gathering place for people of all backgrounds and all ages who love the performing arts. The variety of our artistic offerings reflects the diversity around us––a diversity that is one of the greatest assets of our community.
Risk — We aspire to art that is surprising, exhilarating, and relevant! Original ideas, innovative practices, and excellent creative teams are at the heart of our approach. We dare to forge our own path in search of new experiences.
History
At the time the company was created, it was situated on 16th Avenue in Vancouver. The first production for general audiences on the marquee was “Les Belles-Soeurs” by Michel Tremblay, bringing together 15 women on stage. The director and first Artistic Director, Catherine Colvey, was naturally named “la seizième” (the sixteenth person)