Theatre Inconnu was born in 1978 as a creative venture by Katya Aho-Kern and Clayton Jevne, who together co-created and performed the troupe’s plays. For the first nine years the company – with Katya and Clayton both at the helm – toured their unique blend of theatre, puppetry, and clowning in Canada and in Europe. In 1987 The troupe registered as a non-profit society/charitable organization and established itself in what is now considered its “legendary” 50-seat Market Square cavern theatre space in “Olde Towne” Victoria, BC. The company gradually shifted to an “acting” approach style of theatre, focusing on plays of an “alternative” nature.
In addition to its regular season programming, in 1991 Theatre Inconnu launched an annual summer Shakespeare Festival. Beginning modestly in our Market Square venue, the event quickly grew to become a major tourist attraction in a giant tent in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. After producing the festival for 11 years (the last four taking place at St. Anne’s Academy Auditorium), Theatre Inconnu handed it over to the newly formed Victoria Shakespeare Society who continue to produce this well-attended annual event.
In 2004 the troupe became the resident theatre company in a new venue: the Paul Phillips Hall, in the historic central area of Fernwood in Victoria. This fully-equipped “black-box” theatre maintains the intimate and informal atmosphere of the troupe’s original home.
Theatre Inconnu has also operated a youth/family component, and under the guidance of Timothy Gosley – one of Canada’s premiere puppeteers – has delivered scores of workshops and classes and has produced a number of family oriented events, including: Puppets for Peace festivals; Canada Day and Victoria Day parade spectacles; and more recently, two summers of mounting a multi-medium, multi-cultural, stage adaptation of acclaimed First Nations Artist Roy Henry Vickers’ (of Tsimshian, Haida and Heiltsuk ancestry) Peace Dancer book.
Over the years Theatre Inconnu has continued to take shows on the road, and has toured productions in every region in Canada, as well as trips to the UK, the USA, France, Switzerland, and Mexico.
Theatre Inconnu remains under Clayton Jevne’s artistic directorship, and to date has mounted more than 150 productions in Victoria.
Paul Phillips Hall