The upcoming Saint-Jean Comédie Club is set to open at 774 rue Saint-Jean, bringing food, drinks, and laughs to the heart of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district.
While comedy shows are scheduled to begin in late September, the venue’s restaurant-bar will open later this summer, providing guests with the opportunity to dine and drink before and after performances, according to MonSaintJean. The space, located in the basement of a former design studio, will accommodate around 110 guests in an intimate, cabaret-style setting. It will be the first space in the neighborhood entirely dedicated to stand-up comedy, with shows planned Tuesday through Saturday each week.
The concept is led by Pierre-Olivier Bertrand, Charles Fortier, and Jean-Philippe Guay, who previously produced comedy events under their company Rire en fût. Their past shows at Ninkasi and venues in Pont-Rouge and Donnacona laid the groundwork for this more permanent venue. Local microbrewery La Fosse, a previous collaborator, will be supplying the beer.
“There was a need to have a venue that was truly designed for comedy from A to Z, and especially by people who are passionate about it and who have performed extensively elsewhere,” Guay tells MonSaintJean. “I’ve seen venues, small ones, large ones. We just know pretty easily what the right conditions are for comedians, but especially for the audience.”
In addition to headlining acts, the venue will offer open mic nights, rehearsal shows, and trial runs for new material. Guay says the goal is to balance emerging voices with familiar names.
“We’ll have something for everyone,” Guay added. “At our Comedy Club evenings, we’ll showcase talent, but there will be some that people are a little more familiar with. For the trial shows, I can’t name any names, but we’re in discussions to get some solid names for the trial runs of their new shows.”
Tickets will range from $8 to $25, and the venue will also be available for private events. The club’s full lineup is expected to be announced in late August or early September.
