New management of the TNM | Geoffrey Gaquère dreams of a national stage for the TNM

The announcement of his arrival at the helm of the TNM, on July 11, surprised many. Monday, for the first time since his appointment, Geoffrey Gaquère met the media. And shared his overflowing enthusiasm.

Geoffrey Gaquère learned of his appointment to the (highly coveted) position of artistic director of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM) in the middle of a performance at the Avignon Festival. “I was watching a theater show with students from the Conservatoire last month. There was a three-minute intermission and I opened my cell phone. I then read the message from the TNM! I had trouble following the second part of the show…”

Little known to the general public, the 49-year-old actor, originally from Belgium, has played a lot on stage and a little on television. “At the beginning of my career, the challenge of the accent [belge] forced me to add strings to my bow. I did some directing. I got involved in cultural organizations, like the Conseil québécois du théâtre,” explains the man who is leaving the management of the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal after 18 months in office.

The meeting with Brassard and Ronfard

Geoffrey Gaquère moved to Quebec in 1996, at the age of 21, after falling in love with a Quebec production by Wajdi Mouawad in Brussels. The very first show he saw in Quebec was Cyrano de Bergeracat the TNM, staged by Alice Ronfard, with Guy Nadon in the famous role. “I still get chills!” he said, touching his arm.

He enrolled at the National Theatre School, in the same class as Patrick Hivon (2000). “My time at the School was decisive. It was through Quebec culture and drama that I integrated into Quebec; through contact with mentors like André Brassard and Alice Ronfard. Moreover, in 2022, when I programmed The crossing of the century, by Michel Tremblay, at Espace Libre, it was a way of returning the favor to Alice and André.

The TNM of tomorrow

Met in a dressing room at the Sainte-Catherine Street Theatre (still under construction), the sixth artistic director since the company was founded in 1951, wants to “develop what already exists” within the institution. He is banking on cultural mediation, diversification, audiences and solidarity in the theatre community. He will reach out to seasoned and emerging artists. His mission is to support them in the development and creation of their artistic projects, both in the Réjean-Ducharme Hall, which will be inaugurated in the fall, and in the current hall.

The transition

Geoffrey Gaguère will continue to direct, but he has no idea what else he will produce: “I have two seasons already programmed by Lorraine [Pintal] in front of me before revealing my choices.”

The new director succeeds a well-known woman who has been at the helm of the TNM for more than three decades. Until December, he will work with M^me Pintal for the transition: “I’m going to vampirize his immense knowledge!” he illustrates. Lorraine will guide me to take the helm of this big ship. But I’m not naive. I know very well that there will be many challenges. However, my dream is to succeed in deploying this formidable vessel as much as possible. To make it shine inside and outside its walls. It’s a project that is at once artistic, human and social.”

In his eyes, the “privilege” of directing the TNM comes with “the weight of its mission, its prestige and its notoriety.” “This institution plays a vital role in Quebec society. The TNM’s DNA and history contain everything it needs to become a national scene, like in Europe. Quebec deserves that.”