Street Theatre Takes You Into New France’s Darkest Tales

QUÉBEC GHOST TOUR FIELD GUIDE

Street Theatre Takes You Into New France’s Darkest Tales

An immersive, two-hour walking theater that resurrects criminals of New France—useful for travelers who want a vivid, on-foot encounter with Québec’s murky past.

Street Theatre Takes You Into New France’s Darkest Tales.

Duration
2h
Location
Québec
Operator
Services d'animation Promas Inc.
Category
Ghost Tour
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

Théâtre de rue Crimes en Nouvelle-France plunges you into the city’s colonial underworld: an interactive street-theater promenade where spectres such as Marie Rivière and executioner Jean Rattier deliver chilling stories of crimes committed centuries ago, and where some apparitions may call on audience members to take part.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

Interactive Street Drama
THEATRE

Interactive Street Drama

Actors in character bring New France’s notorious figures to life in short, street-side scenes—part history lesson, part theatrical haunt—designed to unsettle as much as to inform.

Meet Marie Rivière and Jean Rattier
THE CHARACTERS

Meet Marie Rivière and Jean Rattier

The tour foregrounds specific historic personas—the specter of Marie Rivière and the executioner Jean Rattier—who narrate sordid episodes from the colony’s past and lead encounters with other criminals of the era.

Expect Participation—and Goosebumps
THE EXPERIENCE

Expect Participation—and Goosebumps

Beyond listening, visitors should be ready to be drawn into the action: some revenants may solicit audience participation, keeping the tone both entertaining and unnerving.

What the day feels like

What It Feels Like

Over two hours you move on foot through Québec’s layered streets, stopping for short, vividly staged episodes in which actors, speaking in character, recount grisly crimes from New France and summon the city’s criminal past; the mood shifts between macabre storytelling and interactive theatre as some ghosts request audience involvement.

Interactive Street Drama

THEATRE

Interactive Street Drama

Actors in character bring New France’s notorious figures to life in short, street-side scenes—part history lesson, part theatrical haunt—designed to unsettle as much as to inform.

Meet Marie Rivière and Jean Rattier

THE CHARACTERS

Meet Marie Rivière and Jean Rattier

The tour foregrounds specific historic personas—the specter of Marie Rivière and the executioner Jean Rattier—who narrate sordid episodes from the colony’s past and lead encounters with other criminals of the era.

Expect Participation—and Goosebumps

THE EXPERIENCE

Expect Participation—and Goosebumps

Beyond listening, visitors should be ready to be drawn into the action: some revenants may solicit audience participation, keeping the tone both entertaining and unnerving.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this is for — and who should take care.

1
History BuffsWell suited: the tour foregrounds historical criminals and period characters, offering a theatrical window into New France’s darker stories.
2
Theatre & Ghost Tour FansIdeal: interactive street theatre and the prospect of being drawn into scenes will appeal to visitors who enjoy live performance and spooky storytelling.
3
Families with Older ChildrenSuitable with caution: older children who can manage a two-hour walk and darker themes may enjoy the show, but the content is macabre and participation is possible.
4
People with Mobility LimitationsNot ideal without planning: the tour is entirely on foot and moves between Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville, involving a significant elevation change that may challenge those with mobility issues.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

What to Bring

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes; the promenade is on foot and lasts about two hours.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the tour?

The tour runs approximately two hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It meets at 44 chaussée des Écossais, Québec, QC, G1R 4H3 (Morrin Centre).

Is the experience interactive?

Yes. Some spectres may solicit audience participation during the street-theatre scenes.

Is the tour physically demanding?

The visit is entirely on foot and passes from the Haute-Ville to the Basse-Ville, which involves a notable elevation change; participants should expect stairs and steep streets.

What should I bring with me?

Bring clothing and accessories appropriate to the weather and comfortable walking shoes.

Who operates this experience?

The tour is run by Services d'animation Promas Inc.