theatrical troupe

{{Short description|Informal group of actors}}

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Theatrical troupe (French: troupe), sometimes referred to as an acting company, is a group of theatrical performers working together. They may work in repertory other types of theatres, and may take performances on tour. {{Cite web|title=Definition of TROUPE|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troupe|access-date=2020-06-15|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=troupe - Wiktionary|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/troupe|access-date=2020-06-15|website=en.wiktionary.org|language=en}}{{cite web | title=Troupe definition and meaning | website=Collins English Dictionary | url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/troupe | access-date=14 December 2021}} They are not the same as a theatre company, which is an organisation that produces theatrical performances,{{cite web | title=Theatre company definition and meaning | website=Collins English Dictionary | url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/theatre-company | access-date=14 December 2021}} although there is sometimes an overlap in terminology.

The troupe is termed a resident acting company (or resident company) if they are supported by a particular theatre, where they have a home base,{{cite web | last=Jones | first=Corey H. | title=Why regional theater companies are forsaking their once-mighty resident acting ensembles | website=Colorado Public Radio | date=6 June 2014 | url=https://www.cpr.org/2014/06/06/why-regional-theater-companies-are-forsaking-their-once-mighty-resident-acting-ensembles/ | access-date=14 December 2021}} such as the Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, Connecticut, United States{{cite web| url=https://everymantheatre.org/our-resident-company| website =Everyman Theatre| title=Our Company| access-date=14 December 2021}} The State Theatre Company of South Australia, whose home base is at the Adelaide Festival Centre, is referred to as the resident artistic company.{{cite web | title=About | website=State Theatre Company | url=https://statetheatrecompany.com.au/about/ | access-date=14 December 2021}}

Troupes are frequently organised by theatre practitioners (e.g. Bertolt Brecht's Berliner Ensemble or Tadeusz Kantor's Cricot 2). The membership can be divided into permanent or temporary as, for example, in the Comédie-Française (French: sociétaires and pensionnaires).{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Comédie Française}}