It is the actor and playwright Félix-Antoine Boutin who will take over the artistic direction of the Espace libre theater from February, while Geoffrey Gaquère, the outgoing director who has held this position for nine years, is appointed director of the Conservatory of Montreal drama.
Félix-Antoine Boutin founded the theater company Création dans la chambre when he graduated from the National Theater School of Canada in 2012.
At Espace libre, “he wants to encourage risk-taking” and encourage artists to shape their project and follow their instincts. “I’m in love with artists,” he says. He says he wants to keep trying new forms, such as the first parts of shows offering stage studies. Although he wants to concentrate on the theater form, Félix-Antoine Boutin is open to employing artists from other backgrounds.
Espace libre itself has always been the scene of various experiments, he says. “There was theater in the toilets, in the dressing rooms and in the street,” says the new director. It is very, very important that this place continues to perpetuate this astonishment and this risk-taking,” says Félix-Antoine Boutin.
“His career as a creator and his vision for the development of our institution convinced our hiring committee,” said the Théâtre Espace libre in a press release. We are convinced that he will know how to perpetuate the mission of this emblematic place of creation, while instilling in it his own passion for the theatre. »
After nine years as director of the Espace libre, Geoffrey Gaquère took over as head of the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, where he got closer to the next generation of theatre. To ensure this succession, he hopes to “glean talent from all strata of society”. He will take over from Benoît Dagenais, who is retiring.
He is tackling this challenge “with a view to a post-pandemic return, where there has been a pileup of shows. The first affected are young people. I want to revive and restore hope,” he says.
There was theater in the toilets, in the dressing rooms and in the street. It is very, very important that this place continues to perpetuate this astonishment and this risk-taking.
Marc Hervieux, Director General of the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Arts of Quebec, said he was proud to welcome Mr. Gaquère to the Conservatory team as director of the establishment. “His varied professional background, his human qualities and his creative vision will allow him to guide the team in place and continue the excellent work accomplished in recent years. »
The next season of Espace Libre will be the one programmed by Geoffroy Gaquère. “I will defend body and soul the programming of my friend Geoffroy”, says Félix-Antoine Savard on this subject.