Less than 24 hours after the appointment of its artistic director Geoffrey Gaquère as head of the Montreal Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, the Espace libre theater announces the hiring of young actor and director Félix-Antoine Boutin to succeed him.
Heads are moving in Montreal theaters these days! After the announcement of the departures of Olivier Kemeid from Quat’Sous, Ginette Noiseux from Espace GO and Danièle de Fontenay from Usine C (replaced by Angela Konrad), it was Geoffrey Gaquère’s turn to leave Espace libre, he had been leading since 2014.
The actor and director of Belgian origin – trained in acting at the Brussels Conservatory and here, at the National Theater School – will direct the Montreal Conservatory of Dramatic Arts from January 9, replacing Benoît Dagenais, who had run the theater school since 2012, and who announced his retirement.
Geoffrey Gaquère admits that his decision to leave Espace libre was taken last spring. “I had reached the end of the project I had submitted,” he says. And then after two and a half years of pandemic and asset maintenance work, I admit that there was a little breathlessness on my part. I hadn’t planned anything yet. »
In fact, the position of the Conservatoire was posted barely a month ago, so everything happened very quickly. But Geoffrey Gaquère wanted to set foot in the stirrup.
“It’s the idea of transmission that I liked,” says the 47-year-old actor and director. After having been in contact with the next generation, I felt equipped to preserve, animate and light the flame of the passion of young people. I also wanted to work with them in a post-pandemic context, which is difficult. To nurture hope. »
Under his leadership, Espace libre’s funding doubled, while its audience grew by 25%.
I am proud to have preserved the soul of this theatre. This space of total freedom for artists. This space that I consider more like a theater house. The artists live in this house. We have preserved this authenticity, this DNA, which comes to us from the founders [Jean-Pierre Ronfard et Robert Gravel]a humanism, a relationship with others with respect for the artist, for the work, all in a festive spirit.
Geoffrey Gaquère, artistic director of Espace libre
Félix-Antoine Boutin carries the torch
This welcome and this humanism of which Geoffrey Gaquère speaks, Félix-Antoine Boutin experienced them when he presented his Popular and sensational story to Free space. “We really felt at home,” says the 33-year-old actor, director and artistic director, who will take office on 1er next February.
It is for this reason that when he saw the advertisement for the position of artistic director, Félix-Antoine Boutin, who founded his company Création dans ta chambre when he left the National Theater School in 2012, felt arrested.
“I was in the subway and I was hot, he says. Because it lived in me. I saw myself in that role, in that theater. So, I lent myself to the exercise. I will work in the continuity of what Geoffrey has done. Moreover, the 2023-2024 season has already been planned.
Félix-Antoine Boutin, who signed quite original creations – Koala bears, Personal message – but also installations and events – Orpheus Karaoke, Pyjama party – does he have a plan in mind? What can we expect from him?
“I like aesthetic shocks, risk-taking, unique experiences and unusual formats, replies the future artistic director of Espace libre, so I’m going to go in those directions, but I’m going to continue to work as a team, to listen to artists and reach out to people in the neighborhood, as Geoffrey did. »
Like Geoffrey Gaquère at the Conservatory, Félix-Antoine Boutin will continue to work on the projects of his company (with Julie Basse, Odile Gamache, Gabriel Plante), which he could present at Espace libre. “But I really want to showcase the work of other artists,” he says. My goal is not to introduce myself every season. If I have to do it, it will be for more ambitious, promising projects for Espace libre. »
Same for Geoffrey Gaquère who, like Benoît Dagenais, could well play in productions or direct – even if his time will be limited. “It will force me to make choices,” he assesses.