Quebec Interactive Street Theatre: “Crimes in New France”

Quebec’s ghosts know where the bodies are buried. This lively night walk turns Old Quebec’s criminal past into interactive street theatre, with a guide and actors leading you through stories of ten notorious figures from the New France era. I like the way the tour makes history feel immediate, and I especially like that the performers stay in character while moving through the old city.

The price is $23 per person, a fair deal for two hours of live entertainment, storytelling, and sightseeing. The main drawback is simple: this is entirely outdoors, rain or shine, so cold weather, wet streets, or tired feet can affect the experience.

The tour begins in front of the Morrin Centre at 44 Chaussée des Écossais, just behind St. Andrew’s Church and about a minute from City Hall. From there, you follow a ghostly guide such as Marie Rivière or Jean Rattier, while other actors appear along the way as criminals from centuries past.

Key points to know before booking

• Ten criminal ghosts: Meet characters tied to Quebec’s darker past and hear what they did, how they lived, and how their stories ended.
• Two hours on foot: The route covers a broad section of Old Quebec, with plenty of walking at a manageable pace.
• Live street theatre: The actors interact with the guide and the group, rather than simply reciting a prepared lecture.
• French and English tours: A live guide is available in both languages.
• Rain-or-shine format: Bring warm clothing, comfortable shoes, an umbrella, and rain gear.
• Good for families with older children: Children as young as three and six enjoyed the performance, while ages nine, ten, twelve, and thirteen also found it entertaining.

Meeting the ghosts behind the Morrin Centre

The starting point is easy to find. Go to the front of the Morrin Centre on Chaussée des Écossais, directly behind St. Andrew’s Church and close to Quebec City Hall. That central location makes the tour convenient to reach from other parts of Old Quebec, though you should arrive with enough time to locate the church and street.

The setting does some of the work before the performance even starts. Old Quebec after dark has narrow streets, old stone buildings, and a sense of age that suits stories about crime and punishment. You are not sitting in a theatre with painted scenery. The city itself becomes the backdrop.

Your guide takes on a character for the evening. Guides named in the tour information include Marie Rivière and Jean Rattier, while past performances have also featured Angie and Louis. Louis was praised for staying in character, responding quickly, and keeping the group involved throughout the walk.

That matters because the guide is not just there to point out buildings. The guide connects the appearances, explains the setting, and keeps the performance moving from one scene to the next. The best part of this format is the sense that the story is unfolding around you rather than being delivered from a podium.

How the two-hour walk unfolds

The route takes you through the heart of Old Quebec and covers a fairly large area. You will move from one historical setting to another, meeting the ghosts of ten criminals along the way. The exact order and cast can vary, but the basic shape remains a theatrical walk through the city’s darker past.

At each encounter, an actor presents a criminal figure from New France. You learn about the person’s crime and place in the city’s past, then return to the streets with the guide. The actors interact with the guide and the group, so you may find yourself watching a short exchange rather than simply listening to a biography.

This is why the experience works better than a standard ghost walk for many people. A traditional tour can give you dates, names, and grim events. Here, the characters add voices, gestures, humor, and surprises. The performance helps you remember the stories, even when the subject matter is hundreds of years old.

The route also gives you a different look at Old Quebec. During the day, the city’s grand architecture and polished tourist areas get most of the attention. At night, the same streets provide a moodier setting. The walk takes you through different parts of the old city instead of keeping you in one small square.

You should not expect a museum-style tour with long stops at every building. The focus is the performance and the criminal stories. Historical places and scenic views appear as part of the route, but the actors remain the main attraction.

Ten criminals and the darker side of New France

The tour presents New France as a place with a rougher side than the postcard version of Old Quebec. The city once had a sizable criminal population, and the stories focus on deeds committed centuries ago. That gives you a look at daily life, lawbreaking, punishment, and the people who lived outside respectable society.

The material can be grim, but the tone is not relentlessly bleak. The actors use wit and comic timing along with the darker material. That balance is important. You get a sense of the seriousness of the crimes without spending two hours in a gloomy lecture.

One story involves Tremblay Picote, described during the tour as the first serial killer. That detail can be especially striking for anyone with family ties in Quebec. One participant with Tremblay ancestry was surprised to encounter the connection during the performance.

Another character is McLean, who helped French Canadians but was eventually hanged by the British. That story shows how the tour can touch on more than ordinary crime. Loyalty, conflict, politics, and punishment all become part of the evening.

I would not book this expecting a complete academic survey of New France. The tour selects ten criminals and presents their stories for entertainment and historical interest. Its value lies in giving you memorable human stories and a new way to read the city, not in covering every period or social group.

Why the street-theatre format works

The actors are the strongest part of the experience. They do not simply appear, deliver a speech, and disappear. The performance is designed to involve the guide and the group as the evening continues. That interaction creates small surprises and keeps the pace lively.

The guide also remains in character, which gives the walk a clear personality. A quick response, a comic exchange, or an unexpected appearance can make the group feel part of the show. This is particularly useful on a walking tour, where attention can fade after the first few stories.

You may also find that the group becomes more social as the evening goes on. One smaller group bonded during the tour, helped by the interactive format. That does not mean every departure will have the same group size, since no fixed group capacity is provided, but a smaller crowd can make participation easier.

The theatrical approach is also a good fit for visitors who do not normally choose history tours. If dates and political events make your eyes glaze over, characters can provide a more approachable entry point. You still learn about New France, but the information arrives through scenes and personalities.

The tradeoff is that live performance is subjective. You may love the humor and character work, while someone looking for a quiet, factual walk may find it too playful. The tour is best understood as historical theatre outdoors, not as a formal lesson.

Walking conditions, weather, and comfort

Plan for two hours outside. The tour operates rain or shine, and there is no indoor portion mentioned. Warm clothing is useful even in summer, especially after sunset. In wet weather, bring both rain gear and an umbrella.

Comfortable shoes matter. The route covers an extensive part of Old Quebec, and the walk includes repeated movement between scenes. One past participant noted that there was a lot of walking, though the pace was comfortable. You should still avoid treating this as a short stroll around one block.

The city’s old streets can feel tiring if you have already spent the day sightseeing. Schedule a rest before the tour if possible, and do not wear shoes that need breaking in. The two-hour length is reasonable, but standing and walking for that long is a real part of the cost.

The weather can also change the mood. On a clear evening, darkness adds atmosphere without making the walk unpleasant. In heavy rain or strong wind, the performers may work hard to keep the energy up, but you will still feel the weather. One Halloween outing took place in pouring rain with very strong winds, and the cast continued entertaining the group. That shows commitment, but it does not make bad weather comfortable.

Video recording is not allowed. If you want a souvenir, rely on your memories and any permitted photos before or after the performance rather than filming the scenes.

Is $23 a good value?

At $23, this is one of the easier evening activities to justify in Quebec City. You receive two hours of guided walking, live performance, local history, and access to parts of Old Quebec after dark. A conventional sightseeing tour might offer more architectural detail, but this experience adds a cast of characters and a clear entertainment value.

The price is especially reasonable if you enjoy theatre. You are not paying only for transportation or a guide pointing at buildings. Several performers take part, and the guide carries a role through the evening. That makes the experience feel closer to a small outdoor production than a basic walking tour.

Families may find the cost worthwhile because the format can hold children’s attention better than a standard history walk. Children aged three and six enjoyed one performance, and older children aged ten and twelve also had a good time. Still, the subject is criminal history, so parents should decide whether stories about murder, hanging, and other crimes fit their children.

For a couple or solo visitor, the value depends on your interests. If you like ghost stories, local legends, or unusual history, $23 is modest. If you want a quiet architectural tour or a detailed account of Quebec’s political past, another tour may serve you better.

The booking terms also reduce the risk. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Check the available start times when you book, since the exact schedule is not fixed in the information provided.

Who should take this tour?

I would recommend it to visitors who want to see Old Quebec at night without simply wandering on their own. The route gives you a reason to explore, while the performers supply a story for the streets around you.

It suits:

• Families with children who enjoy spooky stories without needing extreme scares
• Couples looking for an unusual evening activity
• History fans who prefer people and anecdotes to long lectures
• Visitors who enjoy theatre, comedy, and audience interaction
• Repeat visitors who want a different view of Old Quebec
• Anyone who likes ghost tours but wants more acting and group involvement

The experience may not suit you if you dislike walking, cold evenings, rain, or audience participation. It may also be a poor fit if you want a strictly factual tour with no comic performance. The tone is entertaining and sometimes spooky, not solemn.

The stories are not described as too frightening for children, and a nine-year-old and a thirteen-year-old both enjoyed the experience. Still, the subject matter includes criminals, executions, and serious wrongdoing. Use your judgment for younger children, especially if they are sensitive to ghost stories.

Practical planning for your evening

Wear layers rather than relying on one heavy coat. The tour takes place exclusively outside, and conditions can shift during two hours. Pack an umbrella and proper rain gear even if the forecast looks uncertain.

Meet at the Morrin Centre, not at City Hall. City Hall is a useful landmark because it is only about a minute away, but the official departure point is the front of the Morrin Centre at 44 Chaussée des Écossais.

Both French and English are available. Make sure you select or confirm your preferred language when checking departure details. The live guide leads the full experience, so language choice will shape how easily you follow the jokes, exchanges, and historical explanations.

Keep your evening flexible enough for the full two hours. The route covers a broad part of Old Quebec, and the performance depends on moving from scene to scene. This is not an activity you should squeeze between two tightly timed reservations.

My verdict on Crimes in New France

Book this tour if you want history with personality. The ten criminal ghosts, the after-dark setting, and the actors’ quick interaction make it more memorable than a basic walk through Old Quebec. The strongest performances keep the guide in character and bring the group into the action, which is why names such as Louis, Angie, Jean, and Marie have become part of the experience for past audiences.

Skip it if you want shelter, silence, or a detailed architectural survey. Otherwise, $23 buys a lively two-hour look at New France’s criminal past, with enough sightseeing and humor to make the evening feel like more than a ghost story.

FAQ

Where does the Crimes in New France tour begin?

All departures begin in front of the Morrin Centre at 44 Chaussée des Écossais in Old Quebec. The meeting point is behind St. Andrew’s Church and about a one-minute walk from City Hall.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $23 per person.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live tour guide can lead the experience in English or French.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

Yes. The ghosts walk rain or shine, and the tour takes place entirely outdoors.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing. Bring an umbrella and rain gear in case of wet weather.

Can I record the performance?

No. Video recording is not allowed during the tour.

Can I cancel my reservation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.