The Quebec Association of Theater Critics (AQCT) revealed Monday the winners of its prizes for the 22-23 season.
In the “Best Show” category, the Critics’ Prize is awarded to Unbearable long hugs, by Ivan Viripaev, directed by Philippe Cyr, a production by the Théâtre Prospero. For her part, Alexia Bürger won the directing prize for The Daughters of the Saint Lawrence, by Rébecca Déraspe, in collaboration with Annick Lefebvre, a production of the Center du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, in co-production with La Colline in Paris.
Madeleine Sarr, best actress
In the “Best Female Performance” category, the young actress Madeleine Sarr stood out for her role in Rome, by Jean Marc Dalpé after Shakespeare, in a production by Brigitte Haentjens. “Her interpretation of Cleopatra was able to breathe a unique, astonishing and striking vision into a very well-known historical figure,” says the critic. As for the actors, the prize went to Sébastien Ricard, for his interpretation of Coriolanus in the same production: “With this vibrant and impactful interpretation, he knew how to invigorate the Shakespearean story with a passion that is as visceral as it is gripping,” wrote the jury.
In the “Best show for young audiences” category, the winner is Alice on the other side, a play by and directed by Hugo Bélanger, a production of Théâtre Tout à Trac. A special prize was also awarded to the show Manikanetish, by Naomi Fontaine and Julie-Anne Ranger-Beauregard, based on the novel by Naomi Fontaine, directed by Jean-Simon Traversy at Duceppe.