repertory company: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Arts/Theatre)
Quick answer
What does “repertory company” mean?
A theatre company that performs a changing selection of plays from a pre-established repertoire during a season.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A theatre company that performs a changing selection of plays from a pre-established repertoire during a season.
A permanent theatrical ensemble that rotates through multiple productions rather than performing one show continuously; sometimes extended metaphorically to describe any group maintaining a rotating set of skills or offerings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in British English, where 'repertory theatre' has a long tradition. In American English, the term is understood but 'resident theatre company' or 'regional theatre' might be more frequent for similar concepts.
Connotations
In the UK, it often carries historical prestige and is associated with actor training. In the US, it can sound slightly formal or specifically refer to classical theatre models.
Frequency
High frequency in UK theatre discourse; medium to low in general US English.
Grammar
How to Use “repertory company” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] repertory company performed [PLAY TITLE].She spent three years with [NAME OF] repertory company.The repertory company is staging [NUMBER] plays this season.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “repertory company” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- repertory theatre system
- repertory actor
American English
- repertory model
- repertory performance
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used outside arts administration funding or marketing.
Academic
Used in theatre history, performance studies, and cultural criticism.
Everyday
Low frequency; used mainly by theatre-goers or those involved in the arts.
Technical
Core term in theatre management, directing, and actor training contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “repertory company”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “repertory company”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “repertory company”
- Using 'repetoire company' (misspelling).
- Confusing with a 'touring company'.
- Using it as a synonym for any theatre group without the rotating repertoire aspect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A repertory company is the group of actors and production team. They often perform in a specific theatre (a repertory theatre), but the company itself is the organisation.
Yes, especially in the UK and Europe. Many famous theatres like the Royal Shakespeare Company operate on a repertory model, and regional repertory theatres are important cultural institutions.
It allows actors to develop versatility by performing different roles in close succession, builds strong ensemble skills, and provides stable employment for a season.
Metaphorically, yes. You might hear 'repertory company of skills' to describe a person or team with a wide, rotating set of competencies, but this is a figurative extension.
A theatre company that performs a changing selection of plays from a pre-established repertoire during a season.
Repertory company is usually formal, technical (arts/theatre) in register.
Repertory company: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrep.ə.tri ˈkʌm.pə.ni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrep.ɚ.tɔːr.i ˈkʌm.pə.ni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in rep”
- “doing rep”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REPertory = REPeat a REPertoire. A company that REPeats different plays from its list.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIVING LIBRARY OF PLAYS (the company is the library, the plays are the books that are taken off the shelf in rotation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a repertory company?