MISSION
The Théâtre à Bout Portant’s mission is to create, produce, and diffuse a gestural and visual theatre that combines an interdisciplinary approach, a vivid aesthetic, and an ingenious dramaturgy in order to present a new perspective on important social issues.
Art Direction
The Théâtre à Bout Portant’s mandate is to research, create, produce and transmit a theatre that focuses on the physical aspects of performance. The focus is, in other words, on a gestural and visual theatre. The Théâtre’s work focuses on experimentation with gestuality and physical play, pursuing a unique artistic approach that is both critical and aesthetic. Since its creation, the theatre’s ingenious and dynamic scenographic universes have served as a framework for its sensitive productions.
Travelling the roads of Quebec and abroad, the creations of the Théâtre à Bout Portant have been featured in various international events and festivals. The various plays have developed themes that prioritize questioning our social and individual behaviors and actions. The physical approach is placed in the foreground during the various creations of the Théâtre à Bout Portant. The gesture as principle vector serves both as a motor element for the development of dramaturgical action and as a source of images. The actor-creator remains at the centre of the creative process. The different plays are created through a search for the maximum use of the body, in terms of sensitivity, aesthetics, drama, or poetry.
Special care is also taken to ensure the aesthetic environment directly supports the purpose or theme of each production. The various components of the show (sets, costumes, props etc.) are considered a part of the action (constraints, personification, sound presence, extrapolation, manipulation…). The company works at a disciplinary crossroads; combining work on manipulation, choreography, shadows and poetry.
History
The Théâtre à Bout Portant was founded by Vicky Côté in 2008, and is based in La Baie (Québec, Canada).
Since its inception, the company has produced and diffused 12 original plays. The company has produced shows in different formats and for varied broadcasting situations. It has produced plays in conventional and outdoor venues, including In Situ projects. The company creates its shows locally in the Saguenay, and then tours them nationally and internationally. The plays have been presented in different festivals and venues in a number of countries, including Canada, France, Spain, Ireland, Colombia, China, Myanmar, Laos and Mexico. The Théâtre has additionally garnered several awards for excellence.
In 2012, and after five years of assiduous production, the company already had an enviable reputation. This included the creation of five shows, presentations at Saguenay, national and international tours, and various awards. Over the years, the company has been recognized for the quality of its productions. The company moved to the Atelier des Arts de La Baie, and is supported by its municipality. This has given it a space in which to prepare, create and rehearse its productions.
Since 2012 the company has explored several avenues, trying to find different ways to meet the audience beyond that of producing in a conventional venue. These include outdoor In Situ shows, small audience productions, etc. Their repertoire has continued to diversify, finding many ways to reach and develop an increasingly larger audience. From there, their research work has spread over several long-term stages with different partners and host venues, creative residencies abroad, and creative cycles which take place under different themes. The previous productions remain in circulation, continuing their journey with national and international tours, and the company enjoys a solid reputation.
In 2016, the director of the Théâtre à Bout Portant, Vicky Côté, received the John-Hirsch Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts. It was with pride and honour that she received this award for directors whose work represents a major achievement in terms of excellence and artistic vision.
On 14 January 2017, disaster struck the Théâtre à Bout Portant. The Atelier des Arts building, home to our studio/rehearsal room/warehouse, erupted in flames. The entirety of our sets, costumes, technical equipment… and of all our shows produced until this fateful date were there (7 shows disappeared). Thanks to the support of its board of directors and of the public, various cultural organizations, artists and people from all over the world, the company has gotten back on its feet: they reconstructed one of the lost shows (Strict Minimum), and they also immediately commenced a new production.
In 2017, Vicky received the Contribution award from Culture Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean to recognize her contribution to the regional cultural community of the Saguenay.
In July 2018, Christine Rivest-Hénault joined the Théâtre à Bout Portant as assistant director to support Vicky Côté. The duo quickly developed an enviable synergy that allowed the company to significantly increase its efficiency. In addition to her administrative work, Christine quickly took over mediation and the theater workshop, as well as being part of the production team. There is now suspicion of a growing telepathy between the two partners.
In May 2019, after two years of successive moves, relocations and recreations under several different roofs, the company was offered a new permanent home in the building of the Théâtre du Palais municipal (Municipal Palace Theatre). This new venue gave the company a new lease on life after the loss of its materials. The potential for development and implantation in its community, as well as the possibility to create different projects in their new space, motivated the team. The organization invested in making the premises suitable for creating, rehearsing, manufacturing and storing its equipment.
The pandemic period (2020-2023) brought its share of challenges, and the circumstances did not spare our organization. However, through numerous postponements of the show that was being created and the stress generated by cancellations, the company managed to pull through and gave many performances outside of an already existing show. It even created a new show, a short form within the framework of a theatrical project in collaboration with several different theatre companies.
After this bleak period for the cultural sector, the Théâtre à Bout Portant was back on track in 2023, with a burst of new creation. They intensified their efforts to get on stage with new projects while performing previous works. In 2024, two new creations were born.
Since its foundation, the organization has collaborated with many artists from the Saguenay on all its projects, while forging links with designers and artists from all over the province of Quebec. This has facilitated valuable exchanges and allowed us to work concretely to establish an artistic synergy beyond our region.
Each project includes writing periods, research laboratories, creative residencies, rehearsals and performances, before going on tour. To date, the company has had over five hundred performances in dozens of festivals and theater programs across nine countries.
In addition to its productions, the company conducts annual fundraising campaigns to increase its operating and creative projects budget.
Productions
- 2024 Sur Appel (On Call)
- 2024 Pour la vie (For life)
- 2022 La Migration des peuples (Migration)
- 2020 Pour la vie (For Life)
- 2018 Sortie de secours (Emergency Exit)
- 2017 Haïkus de prison (Prison Poetry)
- 2017 Incubateur (Incubator)
- 2015 Blindé (Armored)
- 2012 Strict Minimum (Bare Minimum)
- 2011 La Fuite des choses (The flight of things)
- 2010 Le Déclin des Soleils de Glace (The decadence of the iced suns)
- 2009 RAGE
- 2008 Les Immondes (The Foulers)
Awards and honors
The Théâtre à Bout Portant seeks to pursue a sensitive approach to its productions and to maintain a constant desire for renewal, which makes it a company whose audacity and ingenuity has become its signature. This fact has been repeatedly highlighted and rewarded by its peers and critics. This has been evidenced by the numerous awards collected since its foundation:
– John-Hirsch Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts awarded to Vicky Côté for the excellence of her work in directing (2016)
– Best Creative play, Nanchong international puppetry festival 2014, China (Bare Minimum),
– RIDEAU Prize of the international jury 2012 (The decadence of the iced suns),
– Best scenography/props/costumes, Cartes Prem1ères Prize (Golden Pigs) 2012 (RAGE),
– Prize for theatrical innovation, Cartes Prem1ères Prize (Golden Pigs) 2012 (RAGE),
– Best creation Cirque du Soleil, Vue sur la Relève 2010 festival (RAGE),
– Mention from the Jury, Objectif Scène Grant 2010 (The Foulers).
Vision
To be a reference for theatrical ingenuity, and to be recognized for stimulating human and social reflection.
Board of directors
- Marie-Élaine Riou, President
- Bernard Duchaîne, Vice-President
- Louise Boubreault, Treasurer
- Sophie Gagnon-Bergeron, Secretary
- Vicky Côté, Administrator
- Simon-Olivier Côté, Administrator
Executive and Artistic Director
The company is directed by Vicky Côté, a hyperactive theatre-maker and multidisciplinary artist who is very involved in her community. Her work is not limited to the Théâtre au Bout Portant. She has also taken part in different projects and productions, she has worked with various companies and festivals, and she has assumed many different roles including those of director, actress, puppeteer or designer (light, scenography, sound). Her dynamism makes her a recognized and respected person in the artistic community.
Photo: Patrick Simard
Executive assistant
Christine Rivest-Hénault has been an executive assistant since 2018. Her involvement, versatility, responsiveness and resourcefulness make her an essential pillar of the company. Creator, director and actress, she is also involved in the artistic world in various ways.
During productions, she assumes the roles of assistant director and production director. She is also responsible for conducting mediation and student workshops.
Photo: Vicky Côté
Web community coordinator
Jay Narraidoo
