Summer nights are a poetic motif, something instantly nostalgic and exalted that we describe over and over again, that we paint, that we obsess over.
Summer nights are different everywhere-they have a particular flavor depending on the place. In Montreal, summer nights are humid, like taking a hot bath, and smell of grass, meat on the barbecue and tires heating up on the asphalt. And, no matter where you are in town, there ‘ s always music.
Last night was the first summer night of the Montreal summer, and we spent some of it at the Théâtre de Verdure. ..
Théâtre de Verdure
A theater whose name evokes proto-pagan, popular and organic entertainment, its architecture is inspired by open-air Greek theaters.
It’s on the water, in Parc La Fontaine (Montreal’s #1 picnic park), and you can hear the frogs singing and the laughter of people sitting on the grass before the performance begins…
The Théâtre de Verdure is at the heart of the City of Montreal’s summer arts program, and from June 4 to August 24 you can see shows and films there completely free of charge (by booking online beforehand, see practical info for where).
There are 2,000 seats in an arc around a stage that appears to float on the pond.
Summer nights
When the sun goes down, the shows start (at 8.30pm or 9pm) on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until the end of August.
Last night, we went to see C la Vie, a dance show by Burkinabé choreographer Serge Aimé Coulibali, a transcendental carnival of exalted dance by eight performers from the Faso Danse Théâtre company.
We arrived late (we got lost in Parc La Fontaine) and were seated at the very end of the amphitheatre, on the left wing – but we were able to enjoy the show in all its chaotic movement, because all seats are good at the Théâtre de Verdure. We still recommend arriving early if you want to be front row.
The sky was perfectly dark blue, and the clouds of midges were almost poetic -next time we’ll spray ourselves with citronella first.
Agenda
For the rest of the summer, you’ll be able to see…
Dance shows, including two Grands Ballets Canadiens shows to close the season (we recommend that you mark August 9 in your diary, because you’ll be able to reserve a free ticket for these shows on that date).
Improv , with a show by the Ligue Nationale d’Improvisation tackling improv in the style of Réjean Ducharme, on Wednesday July 9.
Music, with 19 concerts of Scottish, classical, electronic, folk and RnB music…
Circus , with the dystopian-poetic performance Labo, on Wednesday, June 18.
Cinema, with 9 screenings of the year’s best films, including the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, Bergers, Dahomey . . . among others.
Practical info
Where? Théâtre de Verdure, 3939 Avenue du Parc La Fontaine
When? June 4 to August 24, 2025
How much? Free, but you must reserve your place by purchasing a ticket on the Ville de Montréal website.