2000 - today
2009
Canadian Heritage grants an additional $1,300,000 to the School for the implementation of its 2009-2012 Business Plan. Competitive wage adjustment benefitting artists invited to teach at the School is the priority, as it impacts directly on the excellence and quality of the teaching offered.
2008
During the 49th Annual General Meeting, the Governors of the National Theatre School adopt a new by-law that redefines the corporation's operations and governance. The NTS day-to-day business is administered by a Board
of Directors composed of a maximum of 17 directors, elected during the Annual General Meeting of the Governors. The Board
of Governors, made up of 50 volunteers from all across Canada, continue to play an important advisory role, as well as support all of the School's major initiatives in a concrete manner.
The National Theatre School receives $1 Million in tangible benefits from
the CTV-CHUM Benefits Package as a result of CTV’s acquisition
of CHUM. The NTS allocates the CTV
$1 Million contribution to the creation of the CTV Cultural Diversity
Funds.
Following the death of master jeweller Gilbert Rhême, Montreal glass-blower Annie
Michaud redesigned the Gascon-Thomas Award trophy, henceforth given
to each recipient.
2007
Playwright Michel Tremblay steps into the spotlight during the annual NTS Open House, organized in late September as part of Journées de la culture – Québec’s province-wide cultural events weekend. Over 1250 people filed through the School on that day – a record-breaker.
The Technical Production Program is now called Production: the School launches a national consultation process within the professional theatre sector and reviews the curriculum, activities, and financing of its English Production Program.
2006
The triennial fund-raising campaign, Play a Supporting Role! closes on
a high note, on July 31, 2006: a total of $2,893,318 was raised, nearly
$700,000 over the initial $2.2 million objective.
The National Theatre School of Canada’s Open House event celebrates its 10th anniversary: some of the recipients of CALP bursaries are invited to present their projects to the general public.
2005
The School celebrates its 45th anniversary.
The Minister of Heritage Canada assigns two theatre professionals, who are also teachers, to evaluate the training offered at the NTS. Michel Nadeau, an actor, director, artistic director and professor at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec, and Henry Woolf, an actor, director, and former head of the drama department at the University of Saskatchewan, spend a few days at the School and meet with a great number of students and teachers, as well as members of the management team. In his very positive report, Henry Woolf eloquently concludes: "I have taught in and visited some dreadful drama schools in my time and I do recognize excellence when I see it."
The School launches its Cultural and Artistic Leadership Program (CALP), initially for a period of four years, which aims to support the creation of community-related artistic projects, thanks to a $400,000 grant from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
During the spring, the Communications Department launches NTS magazine, a bi-annual publication which succeeds the Journal and features in-depth coverage of subjects that are of interest to the School as well as to those who care about the future of theatre and the performing arts.
The Board of Governors adopts the NTS Governance Policy.
2004
The School’s growing national and international reputation leads to a series of collaborative projects. It signs an exchange agreement with the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre, in Lyon, France, and hosts delegations from Japan, Mexico, and Ireland.
Start of a partnership between the School and the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, whose graduates will collaborate on the creation and production of an opera at the Monument-National.
The School agrees to support and accompany Ondinnok, a Quebec native theatre company, which is launching a new theatre training program for Aboriginals.
2003
The three-year fundraising campaign, Staging the Future, ends on July 31, raising over $2 million dollars.
The duration of the English Production Program, Technical Production, is extended from two to three years.
2002
The Théâtre La Roulotte, with which the School has played an active role since 1994, celebrates its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a big celebration featuring founding member Paul Buissonneau, is organized at the School. That summer’s show, Barthélémy-chez-le-très-bas, is written by Vincent Bolduc and Olivier Kemeid, graduates of the Écriture dramatique program at the time of presentation. Following tradition, graduates of the Interprétation, Production, and Scénographie programs take part in the adventure in various parks across Montreal.
2001
The Directing and Mise en scène programs are created. Lasting two years, their goal is to provide individual training to young artists who have already begun their journey in this discipline. Four students are accepted into the School: two into the Mise en scène program and two into the Directing Program. Recruitment is held every two years.
2000
The School celebrates its 40th anniversary. The first director of the French Interprétation section and man of theatre Jean-Pierre Ronfard creates the play Des dieux et des hommes : Héraklès et autres mythes, presented by the French graduates with English super-titles.
A Directing Chair is created.
Launch of a new, four-part fund-raising campaign – Directing Chair, Bursary Funds, Library, Monument-National – whose goal is to raise $2 million over three years.
The School updates its image and creates a new logo.
Publication of a special, 40-page edition of the NTS Journal containing in-depth articles on the history of the institution, on the School as seen by its students and alumni, and on theatre training.
To mark the tenth anniversary of the Gascon-Thomas Awards, founded in 1990, master jeweler Gilbert Rhême creates an honorific piece, presented to recipients until 2007.