Actor Claude Poissant passes away.
The Passing of a Theatre Icon: Claude Poissant at 69
Bid farewell to Claude Poissant, a legend in the Quebec theatre scene, who left us at 69. The Denise-Pelletier Theatre (TDP) shared their sorrow on Facebook, "With a heavy heart, we say goodbye to our artistic director of the past 11 years, treasured colleague, powerful innovator, and dear friend." Poissant passed due to heart complications, surrounded by his family and loved ones, as stated in reports. The TDP plans to honor his memory in the future.
In addition to being a theatre director, artistic director, playwright, adapter, actor, lyricist, host, and filmmaker, Claude Poissant was an unstoppable force in Quebec's theatre world. In 1978, he co-founded the PaP Theatre, a company dedicated to contemporary texts from Quebec dramaturgy. He remained with the company in various roles until 2014, when he was named artistic director of the Denise-Pelletier Theatre, invigorating the establishment with fresh ideas.
As a director, Poissant is renowned for his remarkable Marivaux cycle, including The Disguised Prince (1992), The Triumph of Love (1995), and The False Servant (2004). He tackled works by Victor Hugo, Jean Racine, Alfred de Musset, Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Luigi Pirandello, and more recently, Franz Kafka. He also staged numerous plays for young audiences, such as You Can Always Dance (Louis-Dominique Lavigne), Little Monster (Jasmine Dubé), The Field (Louise Bombardier), and Pacamambo, an opera by Wajdi Mouawad.
A Champion of Quebec Dramaturgy
Poissant's passion for Quebec's theatre was unmatched. He was deeply loyal to playwrights like Larry Tremblay (Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre, Great Listening, The Ventriloquist, The Orange Grove, Old Age), Geneviève Billette (Crime Against Humanity, The Taster), Fanny Britt (Honey Pie, Kindness, Hurricanes), and Étienne Lepage (Red Mouth, Rapture). His support helped launch the careers of François Léveillée, François Godin, Jonathan Harnois, Guillaume Corbeil, Rachel Graton, Mathieu Gosselin, David Paquet, Florence Longpré, and Marie-Claude Verdier.
A great champion of contemporary dramaturgy, Poissant introduced Quebec theatre-goers to authors such as Martin Crimp, Elizabeth Egloff, Kobayashi Abe, Falk Richter, Lluïsa Cunillé, and Anja Hilling. He also dabbled in musical shows, such as Mutantes by Pierre Lapointe (2008) and The Origin of My Species by Michel Rivard (2019). Poissant, with his infectious sense of humor and extraordinary charisma, actively defended the interests of his field and animated the Gala des Masques four times.
Poissant penned numerous plays, including Spending the Night (1983), If You Die, I'll Kill You (1993), and Irene's Children (2000). As the TDP's Facebook post suggests, three essential aspects characterized Poissant's journey: directing, teaching, and artistic direction, three interconnected passions that he pursued with unparalleled enthusiasm.
Recognition and Legacy
For this giant of a man, both in stature and heart, a mentor to countless generations of artists, particularly as a teacher in many theatre schools, reactions from the theatre community poured in on social media. Colleagues and friends, addressing the deceased directly, shared memories and testified to their profound sadness.
Geoffrey Gaquère, co-artistic and general director of TNM, shared, "Claude, dear Claude, you brought so many creations to life and gave so many of us a chance. You leave a huge void." Martin Faucher, a director, commented, "Your love for theatre was boundless, immense, infinite. Your curiosity, your thirst for the new, your insatiable appetite for the unexpected was a stimulus like no other. Quebec theatre owes you so much."
Fanny Britt, a writer, confessed, "I only had one father in this profession, and that was you. Many of us went to bed orphaned last night." Playwright Larry Tremblay stated, "There was a rare kinship between you and me. I lost my artistic twin, a flamboyant friend, an immense artist, a man of heart yesterday." Actress and comedian Laurence Dauphinais highlighted Poissant's boldness: "You took risks, you wanted to know everything that was new, and you achieved it by investing like no one else."
Actor Mattis Savard-Verhoeven summarized the mentor role Poissant excelled at: "We are hundreds, thousands, I know, who owe you this pat on the back that made all the difference, that said: you are welcome in this world, you were right to choose this profession, it won't always be easy, but hang in there, you're worth it. We will honor your legacy, continue your mission."
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Paying tribute to Claude Poissant's extensive contributions to Quebec theatre, culture, and entertainment, we see a vibrant tapestry woven with elements of directing, teaching, and artistic leadership. His championing of Quebec dramaturgy and contemporary playwrights such as Larry Tremblay, Geneviève Billette, and Fanny Britt, among others, helped shape the landscape of the industry. Moreover, his role as a collaborator and mentor to numerous celebrities like François Léveillée, Geoffrey Gaquère, Martin Faucher, and Laurence Dauphinais underscores his unparalleled impact on the careers of many artists. As the theatre community continues to grapple with his loss, they strive to uphold his legacy, ensuring that his memory remains a beacon of inspiration for future generations within the realm of Quebec theatre.
