Anniversary of “Broue”- a world record theatrical play

March 21 1979, a group of underemployed Quebec actors are about to stage a small play they’ve created, and open the curtain at a theatre in Montreal.  It’s called Broue, a French Quebec colloquialism for foamy head on a glass of beer.

At once comedic and just a bit sad, and with a poke at the English and French solitudes in the city, the action takes place during a day inside the fictional tavern Chez Willy and evokes a past era in the province.  Taverns only sold beer and up until the 1970’s were exclusive male domains so it was the place where Quebec males could have all to themselves.  Broue, parodies the kind of characters that populate the local tavern in a Quebec neighbourhood more or less of the 1960’s

. The group featuring the then young actors Michel Côté, Marcel Gauthier, and Marc Messier, figure they can squeeze a month worth of work out of the play.  It instead became a cult hit and has been staged for decades since.

In 2006 it was honoured with the Guiness Record  for the longest running stage play, with the same actors from its inception.

The website says it has sold over 3.2 million tickets during its run, and many Quebeckers have seen the play several times, as its become a cultural icon.

It has also been performed in English to equally enthusiastic reviews and audiences .

Although it was announced in 2006 that the play would end, it has since been performed again and again due to incredible popular demand..

Although now over 30 years later it is staged far less frequently, every time a performance is announced, it has been sold out instantly.

Broue website