1970-1989

1989

The restoration of the Monument-National is officially announced at a ceremony attended by the participating government authorities.

1988

The Director General of the School, Jean-Louis Roux, submits to the Board of Governors an important report, The Future of the National Theatre School of Canada.

1986

Two major shows featuring graduates of the School as actors and designers depart on a cross-Canada tour to mark the institution’s first quarter-century: Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer, directed by Leon Major, and Avant la nuit... Offenbach, by Michel Garneau, directed by Michelle Rossignol.

1985

The National Theatre School’s 25th anniversary is marked by many special events.

Éditions internationales Alain Stanké publishes L’École – The School, a collective work prepared by Michel Garneau and Tom Hendry under the supervision of Jean-Louis Roux.

The School organizes international workshops on voice teaching, held in Montreal and Toronto.

Models, costumes and masks produced for Le Siège d’Ostende, by Michel de Ghelderode, a public exercise presented in March 1984 and directed by Albert-André Lheureux, are exhibited in Brussels.

The School sends a delegation to the Colloque sur le mouvement scénique, held in Montreal and Brussels

1984

The Acting and Playwriting Section prepares a proposal for training in directing. The Program will not offer courses in directing as such, but two years of supervised immersion in a theatre environment.

The School asks Héritage Montréal to undertake a study on the restoration of the Monument-National.

1983

The School’s teaching structure undergoes some major changes as the Production Program is divided into three separate parts: Production française Program, Technical English Program and the Décoration/Design Program, which remains bilingual.

From 1983 to 1985, the Interprétation et écriture dramatique Section hosts three directing trainees

1982

The (highly favourable) report on the School by Dr. Davidson Dunton is published; the report is commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts.

The English Acting and Playwriting Section welcomes a directing trainee.

1980

The English Playwriting Program is founded, under the responsibility of the Director of the English Acting Section which changes its name to the English Acting and Playwriting Section.

The School’s annual budget reaches $1,495,957

1978

The School becomes the official owner of the Monument-National, for the sum of $412,000.

The Interprétation française Section changes its name and becomes the Interprétation et écriture dramatique Section.

The annex to 5030 Saint-Denis is inaugurated; aside from a number of classrooms, this addition to the main building includes a gymnasium and a multipurpose room.

Dinosaurs, by Carolyn Zapf, directed by Joel Miller, is produced. This is the first Canadian play presented as a public exercise by the English Section.

1977

The English Acting Section welcomes its first playwright in residence, Carolyn Zapf.

1976

For the first time, the School takes part in the Prague Quadrennial, a prestigious exhibition of scenographic work. In subsequent years, the NTS would be a regular feature at this show.

The Quebec Department of Cultural Affairs classifies the Monument-National a historic monument

1975

The French Playwriting Program, headed by the Director of the Interprétation française Section, is created.

1971

Quebec authors take to the stage during the School’s public exercises, with Laver son linge sale, a collage of texts assembled and directed by André Brassard.

For the students’ exercises, André Pagé initiates a policy of commissioning works from playwrights. As a result, many major Quebec plays would later be created at the NTS before being presented on professional stages, including Ma Corriveau (1973) by Victor-Lévy Beaulieu, Le Temps d’une vie (1973) and La Complainte des hivers rouges (1974) by Roland Lepage, Abriés Désabriés (1975) by Michel Garneau and Dernier Recours de Baptiste à Catherine (1976) by Michèle Lalonde

1970

The School kicks off its tenth academic year by opening its new premises at 5030 Saint-Denis Street, where it is still located today.

The School’s annual budget reaches $449,477.