A small revolution is agitating the theatrical milieu this spring. Young and old want to make things happen. The author, actor and director Mathieu Quesnel is part of the group.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
On May 5, some twenty young artists protested with a bang at the premiere of Michel Tremblay’s creation, Dear Chekhov, at TNM. A few days later, the Conseil québécois du théâtre (CQT) issued an open letter criticizing the state of affairs as part of its Table de concertation de lalève. The CQT pleads for a reform of the environment, in order to improve the conditions of creation for the emerging artists weakened after two years of pandemic.
Then, last week on Facebook, Mathieu Quesnel appealed to his comrades to create a new theatrical place “festive, rebellious and open to all possibilities”. A “big distribution cooperative” without programming established months in advance, without a company in residence, and which would run day and night. The comedian of SNL Quebec already has a name: the Pirate Theater.
Interested stars
About fifty performers and performing artists immediately responded positively. Some offering to contribute financially. Among them, Eve Landry, Debbie Lynch-White, Pascale Montpetit, David-Alexandre Després, Steve Gagnon, Renaud Paradis, Marie-Ève Perron…
There are even artistic directors like David Laurin (Duceppe), Philippe Lambert (La Licorne) and Marcelle Dubois (Aux Écuries) who have written to encourage him. “I don’t think this new place will short-circuit the other companies and their mandate,” he says. On the contrary, Le Pirate will enrich, complete and stimulate the Montreal theatrical ecosystem. »
What would The Pirate look like?
“I think of a place like the Brothel, in humor; or the Quai des Brumes for musicians. »
I imagine a lair in the middle, both laboratory and springboard, to allow actors to perform a small scene or a short play, authors to read, directors to test new artistic forms…
Matthew Quesnel
Is a theater without programming or artistic direction viable in the long term?
“Do I dream in colors? Maybe. But I’m not the only one. The reality of freelancers means that creators and performers often have periods of three, four months and more without a contract. Instead of waiting at home idle, Le Pirate would be an ideal place to try out or launch new projects. For the next generation, of course, but not only. For example, I see Yves Jacques coming to jam at the Pirate, like when he had his band! »
All generations
In his view, the mission of the Pirate Theater should be inclusive and based on transmission between generations. “There are talented artists in their 50s and 60s that we don’t see on our stages because we’ve forgotten them. The Pirate will open its doors to them”, specifies Quesnel.
Artists can invest $500 or $1,000 and become co-owners. Quesnel wants to open a Go Fund Me page soon.
I’m looking with friends for businesses for sale in Montreal. I am intrigued by the Caserne 14, rue Saint-Dominique, near Rachel. It seems abandoned… I give myself the summer to meet artists interested in the project. And find a place in the image of this common dream.
Matthew Quesnel
In his vision of the Pirate, there is the idea of returning to the collective creation of the 1970s. As at the time of the Grand Cirque Ordinaire or the café-théâtres. A time he knew through the story of his in-laws, Louise Cuerrier and Daniel Simard, both of whom died in 2016. “I also recently lost a friend with whom I studied at the Conservatoire, Nicolas Chabot . He died of cancer at age 41. It made me think…”.
“At the time, we made small scenes, Chabot and I, he continues. We dreamed of a clandestine, underground place to practice our profession freely. Without constraint. Like pirates! Then I started to work, I had a family, children. When I saw the emergence of the protest movement of young theater artists, I remembered my years at the Conservatory. I said to myself, this old dream, it’s time to realize it. »