Le Théâtre des Petites Lanternes (TPL) est un théâtre professionnel de création et de recherche, enraciné à Sherbrooke.
Centre des arts de la scène Jean-Besré
250, rue du Dépôt, bureau 218
Sherbrooke (Québec) J1H 5G1
Notre compagnie reconnaît que les lieux où se tiennent ses activités font partie du territoire traditionnel non cédé de la Confédération des Abénakis et des Wabanakis.
Diplômée d’un MBA de l’Université de Sherbrooke, Pascale travaille dans le domaine de la santé depuis 2001, principalement à la Direction générale du CHUS jusqu’en avril 2015 et celle du CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS depuis sa création.
Gestionnaire en affaires publiques depuis 6 ans, elle a su créer des partenariats avec de nombreux acteurs de l’Estrie dans différents domaines : affaires, municipal, provincial, enseignement, etc. Elle gère une équipe de professionnels spécialisés en communication, affaires publiques et en droit avec toujours la même conviction : prendre soin des autres.
With French and English roots and a childhood spent in Spain, Kristelle’s approach to the arts is profoundly influenced by multilingualism and layered identities. This diverse perspective is evident in her multidisciplinary work. She graduated from the University of Kent with a degree in Visual and Performed Arts and later earned a Master’s in Gallery Studies from the University of Essex.
In the first half of her career, Kristelle focused on arts development, festival directing, and venue management in the UK. A pivotal experience with the Cornwall-based theatre company Wildworks transformed her trajectory. Now based in Quebec, Canada, she serves as Co-Artistic Director of the theatre company les Petites Lanternes, where she founded Rivières de Lumières, a lantern and theatre festival running for over a decade. She also pioneers landscape theatre in the region, bringing performances into outdoor spaces and inviting audiences to experience familiar locations in new ways.
A recipient of the Prix Artiste dans sa communauté 2022 (CALQ / Les Arts et la Ville), a finalist for the Prix Charles-Biddle in 2019, and winner of the Mérite Estrien, Kristelle was a Fellow for Quebec at the International Society for the Performing Arts from 2019 to 2023 and part of the 2024 Global Leaders Institute (GLI) for Arts Innovation cohort. Alongside Canadian colleagues, she contributed to ISPA’s recognition of the climate emergency and continues her commitment to these issues within the performing arts sector. After seven years as Treasurer on the Board of ELAN (English Language Arts Network), she helped establish ELAN’s Inclusion Committee and participated in the inaugural cohort of the Conseil Québécois du Théâtre’s Diversity Committee. She currently sits on the boards of Legados (Institut Latino Américain de transmission de la langue et la culture) and the Fondation de l’école à vocation artistique FACE.
Her award-winning work has led her to direct training sessions, international residencies, and to contribute to symposia and publications. With an MBA in Artistic Innovation from the GLI, Kristelle continues to push the boundaries of art, creating immersive experiences that resonate deeply with contemporary issues.
2024 Art Highlight :
Brigitte Poupart : Jusqu’à ce qu’on meure
Email : kholliday@petiteslanternes.org
A Luxembourger with Portuguese and German roots, Sandy has always lived at the crossroads of European cultures. She chose to embark on the adventure of Quebec to gain a unique life experience and broaden her perspective.
A graduate of the Institut Supérieur Européen de Gestion in Paris, Sandy has worked as a communications coordinator and virtual assistant, channeling her curiosity and versatility into both her professional roles and her volunteer work with various non-profits. Her career path reflects a harmonious blend of professional skills and community commitment.
2024 Art Highlight : Le Mignonisme, Philippe Katerine
Email : sreuter@petiteslanternes.org
Cyril Assathiany graduated with a degree in performing arts from the École Supérieure de Théâtre de l’UQAM. Over the past 20 years, he has undergone constant artistic evolution, using a transdisciplinary approach that has allowed him to excel as a theatre director, actor, and puppeteer.
Based in Quebec, Canada, Cyril draws inspiration from two fundamental sources: planned and unplanned encounters, as well as the urban landscape. His artistic journey has been marked by a relentless quest to find new ways of expressing and communicating. Driven by a deep curiosity about others, his expertise in physical theatre has often been sought abroad, notably in Burkina Faso and Lebanon.
Currently, Cyril serves as Co-Artistic Director of Les Petites Lanternes theatre company. He is a committed artist, always on the lookout for new horizons to enrich his art and engage with audiences.
2023 Art Highlight: Ficelle de la compagnie Le Mouton Carré
Email : cassathiany@petiteslanternes.org
Projet Monarques marks Paul Lefebvre’s third collaboration with Angèle Séguin and Théâtre des Petites Lanternes, following Comme un grand trou dans le ventre and Bongo Té, Tika!. As the permanent dramaturgical advisor to the Centre des Auteurs Dramatiques (CEAD) — of which Angèle Séguin and Amélie Bergeron, the playwrights, are members — he supports the co-authors, providing a unique yet deeply committed perspective to help shape on stage what the participants’ words reveal. For Lefebvre, the power of theater resonates with Arthur Miller’s sentiment: “Theatre makes us more human because it makes us less alone.” Projet Monarques, to him, is about healing through theater, breaking the isolation of veterans and military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress, as well as others affected by this struggle.
A graduate of the Mise en scène et Création program at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec in 2012, Amélie Bergeron quickly made her mark with her creations Jusqu’à la lie and Usages. In recent years, she has directed Les Barbelés for Théâtre du Trident, Une bête sur la lune for Théâtre La Bordée (the most awarded show of the 2017-2018 Quebec City season), and Le Piano à voile in collaboration with Agnès Zacharie for Ubus Théâtre. Amélie has long been engaged with the work of Théâtre des Petites Lanternes and, at Angèle Séguin’s invitation, co-wrote and directed Projet Monarques.
André Gélineau is an Estrie-based artist who has collaborated as a dramaturge and director with several cultural organizations, including the Petit Théâtre de Sherbrooke, Théâtre des Petites Lanternes, La Seizième, Sporobole, and the Université de Sherbrooke’s cultural center. He has served as artistic director for Théâtre Turcs Gobeurs d’Opium and Théâtre du Double Signe. Gélineau has written around fifteen plays, including S’effondrent les vidéoclubs, Nos cœurs remplis d’uréthane, and Raconter le feu aux forêts. A member of the CEAD, his works have been featured in events such as the Festival du Jamais Lu, Zones Théâtrales, and Dramaturgies en Dialogue. He has taught theater at the secondary and college levels and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in educational sciences, focusing on integrating role-playing in teacher training.
Marie Reverdy has served as a dramaturge for various dance and theater companies, working in both traditional theaters and public spaces. She teaches at FAI-AR (Formation Supérieure d’Art en Espace Public) in Marseille, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, and Université Nice Côte d’Azur. Recently, she took on the role of overseeing the DPEA program in Scenography at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Montpellier. The DPEA (Diplôme Propre aux École d’Architecture) is a specialized post-graduate program available to architects after completing their initial diploma. In the Scenography track, students explore museography and live performance, covering aspects of architecture, equipment, and creative design. For Marie, dramaturgy and scenography are essential pillars of her approach, born from the rich interplay of poetics and place.
Dave Jenniss, born in Trois-Pistoles in 1974, is of Maliseet descent on his father’s side and Québécois on his mother’s. He is deeply engaged in Indigenous culture, especially through his work in theater. In 2004, he attended the Ondinnok theater troupe’s training program for Indigenous actors, where he met Yves Sioui Durand, who became his mentor. In 2005, Jenniss portrayed the character of Dave in Hamlet, le Malécite, by Yves Sioui Durand and Jean-François Mercier, and went on to direct Ondinnok’s 20th-anniversary show. He has since appeared in numerous theatrical productions (Wigwam, Wulustek, Contes urbains, Les papillons de Nuit, Boeing Boeing, L’Amour à l’agenda, Toc Toc, Confidence trop intime, Charlotte) and on television (La grande bataille 2, C’est ici qu’on le dit, Les Rescapés de la justice, Shaputuan, Mouki).
In 2008, Jenniss began writing for theater with his play Wulustek, premiered by Ondinnok Theater. He continued to write several other plays, developing a distinctive voice in the field. In 2016, he was artist-in-residence for the 3rd Eye Project at Centre artistique l’Avant-première in Gatineau, and in 2017, he succeeded Yves Sioui Durand as the artistic director of Ondinnok.
Amélie is a key artist in the Eastern Townships cultural scene, based in Cookshire-Eaton. She is the founder, artistic director, and lead animator of Rurart – Art contemporain en milieu rural, a multidisciplinary arts laboratory. A true creative force, Amélie is a multidisciplinary artist with multiple awards to her name, including the Artiste dans la communauté award from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and Les Arts et la Ville in 2019. Nature is her creative partner, and her work explores themes of identity, otherness, and transcendence. She engages these themes through nature-based workshops, as well as in her painting, installations, and performance art.
Host – CreativeMornings Sherbrooke (2018 – 2022)
Board Member, AGACVS (2018 -2020)
Board Member, Théâtre des petites lanternes (2018 -2020)
Digital strategy consultant, CCE (2015 -2018)
Board Member, ZAP Sherbrooke (2014 -2018)
Family Policy Committee, Municipality of Orford (2017)
Organizing committee, HackQC in Sherbrooke (2017)
Board Member – Vice-President, SociéTIC (2014 -2017)
Organizing committee, HackSherbrooke (2014 -2016)
Board Member – Vice-President, Théâtre Turcs (2011 -2015)
Board Member, SDGQ (2012 -2014)
Board Member, Réseau Action TI Sherbrooke (2009 -2014)
Board member Centre des Arts de la Scène Jean-Besré ( 2020 – )
Board member of the Rassemblement des Artistes de Rue (2023 – )
Board member of the Conseil de la Culture de l’Estrie ( 2021-2023)
UDA active member
Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation cohort (2024)
Director, Fondation FACE (2021-23 and 2024-present)
Vice-President, Legados (2022-present)
Fellow Québec ISPA (2019-2023)
Member, Comité mutualisation des ressources humaines, Conseil de la culture de l’Estrie (2022-23)
Member, Green Committee, Centre des arts de la scène Jean-Besré (2022-2023)
Treasurer, English Language Arts Network (2015-2019)
Director, English Language Arts Network (2012-2015)
Co-founding member, Inclusion Committee, English Language Arts Network (2015-2019)
First cohort of the Theatre and Cultural Diversity Committee of the Conseil québécois du théâtre (2015-2018)
Director, Association des gens d’affaires du centre-ville de Sherbrooke (2017-2019)
Centre des arts de la scène Jean-Besré (2014-2016)
Forum Jeunesse Estrie (2012-2014);
National Association of Local Government Arts Officers (2008-2010);
Western Wedge (2008-2011)
Hillingdon Arts and Culture Advisory Board (2008-2011)
Ginette Martin was born in Acadieville, New Brunswick. She has worked for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Foreign Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs, on English-speaking Africa, Asia-Pacific, South and Southeast Asia, and the United Nations. She acted as Senior Analyst during Canada’s 1998-1999 term on the United Nations Security Council, and worked in the Multilateral Affairs Sector of the Canadian International Development Agency, responsible in particular for health and international security issues. She was Director of the Haiti, Mexico and North America Directorates from 2008 to 2010. As a crisis manager, she participated in the Canadian response to the earthquake in Haiti. Abroad, she has worked in Tanzania and Cuba on political affairs, and in Indonesia on economic and trade issues, as well as human rights. She was Program Manager for Political, Economic and Public Affairs in Guatemala, Minister-Counsellor responsible for the same issues in Mexico City, and Acting Consul General in Monterrey, Mexico. She was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2014 to 2017.
Marie Malavoy has divided her professional life between a career in academia and political involvement. She spent approximately 25 years as a professor in the Department of Social Work at the Université de Sherbrooke, including a five-year term as Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Humanities. In politics, she served as the MNA for Sherbrooke and then for Taillon for a total of twelve years, and she was the Minister of Education, Recreation, and Sport in the Parti Québécois government. She chairs the Women’s Committee of the Cercle des ex-parlementaires du Québec and, along with the Groupe femmes, politique et démocratie, co-founded the Club politique les Elles du pouvoir. Throughout her career, Marie Malavoy has remained deeply involved with various organizations in her community.
Hélène Gravel was born in Chicoutimi many years ago. She was fortunate to be introduced to various art forms at an early age. Her parents were collectors of paintings by Canadian masters, and her father sang with the Opéra de Montréal while studying architecture. Additionally, one of her uncles was the violinist Arthur Leblanc, the former owner of Angèle Dubeau’s current Stradivarius. This inspired her to take violin lessons at the Conservatoire de musique de Chicoutimi for eight years. Music permeated her childhood, and as she grew older, she developed a strong passion for writing—first poetry, then theater—leading her to write several plays performed for charities in the Saguenay and Eastern Townships. Hélène continued her university studies in Quebec City, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in management. She has lived in Sherbrooke for over 25 years. After a career as a management lecturer, director of the Estrie group of community organizations, and general manager of the Sherbrooke Chamber of Commerce, she is now the founding owner of Agence Continuum and Hôtel à la Maison. She has carried on her parents’ legacy, adorning the walls of her home with paintings by Quebec masters Riopelle, Ferron, and Fortin, while music fills the air. Hélène hopes to pass on this love of art to her two beloved daughters and three granddaughters.
Michael Goldbloom, C.M., has been the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Bishop’s University since August 2008. He holds a B.A. in modern European history and literature from Harvard University (1974) and two B.A. degrees from McGill University: the first in civil law (1978) and the second in common law (1979). In December 2013, Mr. Goldbloom was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for establishing several community organizations in Montreal and for his determination to build bridges between the city’s French- and English-speaking communities. On April 3, 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of CBC/Radio-Canada for a five-year term.
Réal Létourneau has been with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (RCGT) for 42 years. He has been a Partner since 1981 and served as Regional Vice President from 1999 to 2015. From 1983 to 2001, he was responsible for taxation in the Eastern Townships. Mr. Létourneau was also a member of RCGT’s Management Committee and Associates’ Council from 1998 to 2015, the National HR Development Manager from 2009 to 2012, and Interim President of RCGT from July 2012 to April 2013. A man deeply committed to his community, he is a volunteer member of several economic development and charitable organizations, and he serves as the group ambassador for Théâtre des Petites Lanternes. When it comes to the arts, Réal Létourneau appreciates all that is beautiful, but above all, he loves the French language and everything literary.
Alain de Lafontaine studied administration at the Université de Sherbrooke and began a career in the arts and business. He is the owner and founder of Le Loubards (1982-1995) in Sherbrooke and Le Café de Lafontaine (1996-2003), venues where he presented over 400 shows. From 2003 to 2016, he served as the General and Artistic Director of Théâtre Granada, where he developed impactful programming and renovated the entire theater. In 2009, he and his team founded Sherblues & Folk, an urban festival held in downtown Sherbrooke. He also coordinated Les Concerts de la Cité and organized programming for small venues such as Le Boquébière and La Petite Boite Noire to energize downtown Sherbrooke. Additionally, he was responsible for programming at Place Nikitotek and served as the Director of Ceremonies and Culture for the Sherbrooke Canada Games in 2013. He was selected as Presenter of the Year at the Rideau Awards and received the Réseau Centre Initiative Award. He won the Mérite Estrien award in both 2005 and 2014. After writing “Bars et Âmes” in 1995, “Un été Hippie,” published last May, is his second novel.
Olivier Bouffard was born in Sherbrooke, where he grew up and began his higher education, before moving to the capital to complete his studies in journalism.
He began his career in print journalism, working for various English- and French-language newspapers in the Eastern Townships and beyond. After a few years in politics back in the capital, he took his first leap abroad to work with an NGO. Upon returning, he focused on media relations in the academic and music sectors, but the urge to work with NGOs struck him again. He is now the Director of Communications for Transport Canada
Jan is a proud ambassador of all things Fintech, dedicated to improving society through finance and technology. He is the co-founder of the Holt Accelerator, a top-tier international fintech accelerator backed by one of Canada’s wealthiest families, Holdun. Jan also founded Fintech Cadence, a not-for-profit organization that builds ecosystems and trains thousands of people in the field each year, supporting or mentoring over 100 fintech projects annually. Additionally, he served as Head of Finance for District 3, where he helped 20 start-up teams raise over $15 million. He also managed finance at bus.com, assisting the company in its growth from incorporation to Series A status. Before entering the start-up world, Jan worked as a consultant, managing multi-billion dollar infrastructure investments for investment bankers. He holds an MBA from HEC, a finance diploma from the University of Ottawa, and has passed Level II of the CFA.
Patricia Gauthier has been a management and governance consultant since September 2019. She has extensive experience in the healthcare sector, having held management positions in five hospitals in the Eastern Townships and Montreal, including the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS), over the past forty-five years. Ms. Gauthier has also served as the President and CEO of CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS since its creation in April 2015. Her excellent work and commitment have been recognized many times; in 2019, she received the Persillier-Lachapelle career award, in 2015 the Leader de la diversité culturelle award from Actions interculturelles de Sherbrooke, and in 2014, she was awarded the Mérite Estrien for her entire career and her twelve years at the helm of the CHU de Sherbrooke.
Ms. Gauthier is a governor of the Fondation de recherche en administration de l’Université de Sherbrooke and served as an associate professor in the university’s Faculty of Administrative Sciences from 2008 to 2011. She was also a lecturer for fifteen years in the Faculty of Medicine at Université de Montréal. Since 2010, she has held a certificate in organizational governance from Université Laval’s Collège des administrateurs de sociétés. Additionally, Ms. Gauthier is a member of Christie-Innomed and has served on several boards, including the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec and the Université de Sherbrooke.
Born in Stratford, Quebec, Guillaume Lirette-Gélinas developed an early interest in performance. After studying literature and being influenced by creators such as Jacques Prévert and Antonin Artaud, he trained in acting at the Séminaire de Sherbrooke and Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe. He founded Théâtre aux antipodes, producing inventive and daring stage productions. In his quest for perfection and knowledge, he has taken courses with Pol Pelletier, Norman Chouinard, and Sylvie Tourangeau, and participated in the Double Edge Theater and MASQU’ALORS Festival.
Guillaume then discovered classical singing, early music, and world music, training with Danielle Carpentier, Catherine Elvira Chartier, Marcel Pérès, Étienne Langianni, and others. At the same time, in 2021, he entered municipal politics, where he has since served as a borough councillor in the Fairview district of Lennoxville, sitting on the culture, leisure, sports, and outdoor activities commission.
He continued his training at the LASSAD school in Brussels and was selected as an artist-in-residence in France, performing at the Avignon Festival Off and exploring the theater of Klim and Kovalevitch. Back in Quebec, he obtained a B.A. with honors in theater and singing from Bishop’s University, followed by an M.A. at the University of Limerick in Ritual, Chant, and Songs, focusing on interculturality in 12th-century musical theater.
An intercultural and multidisciplinary artist, Guillaume Lirette-Gélinas is pursuing his career in Quebec, distinguishing himself through his versatility and artistic commitment.
Senior Public Affairs Officer at Orange bleue affaires publiques
Marc-Olivier Ducharme is passionate about the interaction between humans and technology. With a degree in Political Science from the Université de Montréal, he thrives in spaces where technology and creativity intersect. Currently serving as the Director of Development at Sporobole, he is shaping the digital future of the cultural sector through transformative projects. He collaborates with brilliant minds worldwide, without whom these initiatives would not be possible. Together, they weave collaborative networks, explore digital fabrication in the arts, and push the boundaries of social innovation.
He believes in the power of freely sharing information and knowledge. Transhumanism intrigues him—though “terrified” might be a more accurate description—and he dreams of a world where technology serves purposes beyond capitalism. Outside the office, he can often be found capturing moments with his camera, tinkering with electronic gadgets, or sleeping under the stars.”
Originally from Sherbrooke, Manon Sévigny holds a Bachelor’s degree in Administration with a focus in Accounting from Université de Sherbrooke (1989) and an MBA (2009). Driven by a commitment to personal growth, a love of new challenges, and a passion for learning, she has worked in a variety of organizations, gaining extensive experience in human resources management, finance, accounting, teaching, entrepreneurship, strategy, organizational diagnostics, communication, and talent development. She also has an interest in philosophy and law.
This is not her first involvement in Sherbrooke’s cultural scene; the arts play a significant role in her life, offering a realm of endless discovery.
Mindset: Dynamic, lively, creative, and open. I enjoy inspiring those around me to embrace this same mindset, creating fertile ground for growth and exploration.
A native of Sherbrooke, André Poulain studied literature at the Université de Sherbrooke, earning a Bachelor of Arts (1973), a Master of Arts (1977), and a Doctorate in French Studies (1985). As an author, actor, screenwriter, and director, he has built a career in teaching, theater, and television. He founded and directed the Compagnie du Petit Thé des Bois (1968-1974), the Théâtre Entre Chien et Loup (1977-1984), and the Théâtre du Thé des Bois (1985-1995), where sixteen of his plays were produced. A director at CKSH-TV and Radio-Québec in the 1970s, he returned to his original profession in the 1990s, producing several documentaries for television series broadcast on Radio-Canada and specialty channels.
In 2008, he founded Racontez-moi, a biographical writing services company that offers workshops, life stories, biographies, and corporate histories. His most recent work, Si je pouvais raconter mon histoire, is a biography of businessman Dennis Wood published in 2021.
“Song is not a minor art,” as Gainsbourg sang. If I were to compile the thousands of songs that have marked my path, it seems to me that you could hear something akin to the soundtrack of the film of my life.
Originally trained in classical music, Emmanuelle Laroche graduated from the acting program at the National Theatre School of Canada in 2005. Since then, she has divided her time between theater and television, both acting and directing. She first came to public attention in the series CA, and more recently appeared in Ruptures, O’, Mémoires vives, Yamaska, and Unité 9, among others. She is also part of the cast of Anh Minh Truong’s short film Fuckés, pognés ensemble, which was officially presented at the Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma in March 2020.
With a degree in graphic communications from Université Laval and an MBA from Université de Sherbrooke, she served as president and director of the Strass design studio for 10 years. Active and highly engaged in the Eastern Townships community, she is well known for her talent in rallying and mobilizing others and her deep commitment to the arts, culture, and community. Her dedication is reflected in her work developing CreativeMornings Sherbrooke.
2024 Art Highlight :
Royal de Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard
Email :vbviens@petiteslanternes.org