Our story and mission
Our story
The theatre company was founded in 1996 thanks to Lise Daignault, the mother of an adult with an intellectual disability. She believed theatre could be a valuable tool for personal development for people with intellectual disabilities.
To help bring this project to fruition, the Association régionale de loisirs pour personnes handicapées du Sud-Ouest (ARLPHSO) teamed up with a Services de réadaptation du Sud-Ouest (SRSO) educator to secure necessary funding and recruit a qualified instructor.
Major
milestones
Performance at the first edition of the Bas les masques international theatre festival in Sherbrooke
Performance at the Fêtes théâtrales du Suroît at Salle Albert-Dumouchel
A show bringing people together at Centre du Nouvel Envol
A second group of actors begins meeting on Thursday evenings
Screenings of the documentary Les Pas pour Rire at FIFA in Montreal, FCM in Sherbrooke and FIT in Valleyfield
The company celebrates its 20th anniversary with the play Il était une fois...Les Pas pour Rire
A performance in partnership with Parrainage civique de Vaudreuil-Soulanges at Cité-des-Jeunes, and the online release of the documentary Changer le monde avec un spectacle
The project Les Pas pour Rire brise le 4e mur brings theatre to CHSLD Victor-Léger and Répit le Zéphyr
A fresh chapter for the organization, with a new brand identity and service offering
Our mission
We offer adaptive theatre workshops and social activities for people with intellectual disabilities or other challenges with everyday functioning in Montérégie-Ouest, supporting their physical and mental well-being.
Our vision
Our goals
Making culture accessible: Our primary goal is to make theatre and other forms of cultural expression accessible to people with intellectual disabilities or other challenges with everyday functioning.
Promoting adaptive theatre: We aim to raise awareness and appreciation of adaptive theatre in the community, showing how it can support inclusion and personal growth.
How we work towards our goals
The benefits
Theatre gives participants a chance to explore emotions, social conventions, mutual support, collaboration and improvisation. It also lets them use their imagination to bring characters to life. Alongside artistic expression, the workshops help reduce social isolation and encourage active participation in the community through public performances.
Our workshops are primarily for adults aged 18 and over and aim to strengthen each member’s independence. Self-determination is a core value our team works to promote. We recognize every member as an adult with real potential that can be nurtured and developed.
Our workshops help participants build on that potential and develop skills they can use in many areas of life.
Creating, adapting and directing
Every scene and character in our shows is created around each actor’s interests, abilities and strengths. This process unfolds over several weekly workshops, with participants bringing their own personal touch to our productions.
Our Theatre Coordinator plans and leads these workshops with help from our special care counsellors and volunteers. Members have the opportunity to discover different forms of theatre, explore their talents and learn more about themselves.
Who we serve
Les Pas pour Rire theatre company welcomes people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, as well as people with various physical disabilities and challenges with everyday functioning. Our only requirement is that participants be able to get around and use the washroom independently.
Where we work
The company serves individuals and organizations throughout Montérégie-Ouest.
