Quebec Theatre Awards Celebrate a Year of Powerful Storytelling

Montreal’s theatre scene shone brightly this week as the Association québécoise des critiques de théâtre (AQCT) announced its winners for the 2024-2025 season. The awards, presented Monday evening, highlighted a year of compelling narratives and exceptional performances, reflecting a vibrant cultural landscape in Quebec.

“Janette” Takes Top Honors

Rébecca Déraspe’s play, Janette, directed by Jean-Simon Traversy, was crowned the best play of the season. Critics lauded the production as a “rallying spectacle” that beautifully chronicles the stories of women over the last century. The staging was described as “grand and warm,” and Déraspe’s writing was praised for its “exceptional skill and sensitivity.”

But the real standout, according to the AQCT, was Guylaine Tremblay’s “astonishing” performance as Janette Bertrand, a beloved Quebec icon. The portrayal was noted for its authenticity, avoiding any hint of caricature.

Beyond the Best Play: A Look at Other Winners

The awards weren’t limited to Janette. Several other productions and artists received recognition for their contributions to the Quebec stage.

• Best Original Text: Éric Noël for Ces regards amoureux de garçons altérés (These Loving Gazes of Altered Boys)
• Best Direction: Geneviève Labelle and Mélodie Noël Rousseau for Moi, Jeanne (Me, Jeanne)
• Best Set Design: De glace (Of Ice), a collaborative effort by Karine Galarneau, Nancy Bussières, Thomas Sinou, and Guillaume Saindon, under the direction of Anne-Marie Ouellette.
• Best Female Performance: Evelyne Rompré for her solo performance in Alistair McDowall’s Tout ça (All of That)
• Best Male Performance: Gabriel Szabo for his role in Éric Noël’s Ces regards amoureux de garçons altérés.
• Best Young Audience Play: Magali Chouinard for Âmes sœurs (Soulmates)
• Best Play Created Outside of Quebec: Édouard Louis for Histoire de la violence (History of Violence), directed by Thomas Ostermeier.

Finalists for the top prize included Sarah Berthiaume’s adaptation of Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette’s novel, La femme qui fuit (The Woman Who Flees), and Louis-Karl Tremblay’s production of Alistair McDowall’s Tout ça.

The Importance of Quebec’s Theatre Scene

Quebec’s theatre scene is a significant contributor to the province’s cultural identity and economic vitality. According to a 2023 report by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the performing arts sector generates over $1.2 billion in economic activity annually and supports thousands of jobs. These awards underscore the importance of investing in and celebrating the artists who drive this thriving industry.

The AQCT awards serve not only as recognition for artistic achievement but also as a vital platform for promoting Quebec theatre to a wider audience. They highlight the power of storytelling to connect communities, spark dialogue, and reflect the complexities of the human experience.