Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Bernard, Denis
Quebec-based actor, director, and producer, born December 6, 1957.
Denis Bernard began his theatre career as a favourite of the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, performing in Feux Follets (1983), Richard III (1989), Ruy Blas (1990), Le Pain Dur (1991), Joue-le pour moi, Sam/Play it Again, Sam (also in 1991), and in Grossière indécence/Gross Indecency, in which he played Oscar Wilde (1998).
He also played Trigorin in Serge Denoncourt's adaptation of The Seagull, Je suis une mouette (non, ce n'est pas ça), at the Théâtre de Quat'Sous (January, 1999), and as Biff in the Compagnie Jean-Duceppe production of La mort d'un commis voyageur/Death of a Salesman (April, 1999).
A devotee of Anton Chekhov, he told La Presse (Montreal) in October, 1999, "He brought me a maturity as an actor, the ability to find assurance in doubt."
He is also a devotee of realistic contemporary Anglo-Canadian, English, and Irish theatre: in autumn, 1999, he directed George F. Walker's La fin de la civilisation/The End of Civilisation for Quat'Sous.
From 2009 to 2019, Denis Bernard was Artistic Director of Théâtre de la Manufacture at Théâtre la Licorne, where he mounted primarily contemporary social issue plays that connected with the audience: "Je veux un théâtre qui va à la rencontre du spectateur." During his tenure, La Manufacture produced a notable number of French translations of English and Anglo-Canadian plays. In December, 2020, he returned to La Licorne to direct Girls and Boys by British playwright Dennis Kelly in a translation by Fanny Britt. However, Bernard has also been a strong supporter of Quebec playwrights, such as Francois Archambault, encouraging new play development through a playwright-in-residence program.
Bernard has been nominated six times for a Masques Award for Actor in a Leading Role or Director.
Profile by Gaetan Charlebois and Anne Nothof.
Last updated 2020-04-17
Bernard, Pierre
Born in 1958, Pierre Bernard was Artistic Director from 1988 to 2000 of the Théâtre de Quat'Sous in Montreal, the city's highest profile alternative house. Prior to the prestigious post Bernard had been working in the theatre around Montreal since 1983, as press agent for both Quat'Sous and the Compagnie Jean-Duceppe. He was assistant to Quat'Sous AD Louise Latraverse from 1984-86.
Bernard's seasons represented an eclectic and audacious mix of plays from around the world with a slight penchant for works from the British alternative scene (Pitchfork Disney), and the American mainstream (Cindy Lou Johnson, whose Traces d'étoiles/Brilliant Traces (1992, trans. Maryse Warda) Bernard chose as his first directorial assignment, and which was a popular success. He worked with actors Sylvie Drapeau and Luc Picard, and the team mounted the production in French and then in English (Sylvie Drapeau's first anglophone show) at the Saidye Bronfman Centre. In 1995 he directed the well received Variations sur un temps.
As a condition of his employment at the company, Bernard demanded complete artistic freedom. He read a play each day and this curiosity showed in the wide range of tastes and eras an average year at the Quat'Sous encompassed. He has also created new directors at his company, including playwright Michel Tremblay, actor Marc Béland and film director Denys Arcand (The Decline of the American Empire). Bernard also introduced Quebec audiences to emerging playwright Yvan Bienvenue and to the controversial Brad Fraser, whose three major works (Poor Super Man, Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love and The Ugly Man) stirred up much discussion in the community of artists and spectators in Quebec. In 1998, Bernard made an even bolder move, announcing a four-play season with three of the plays being from George F. Walker's Suburban Motel series (trans. Maryse Warda). He directed Problem Child, from the cycle, and the production won a Masque in February, 2000
He said of the artistic directorship of Quat'Sous, "My initial jauntiness has disappeared and so have my illusions. I'm always insecure about my role as AD. On the other hand, I hate rigid structures and imposed responsibilities."
He returned to his roots in acting in 1999, performing in the premiere production of Mouawad's Rêves at the Festival de Théâtre des Amériques (now Festival TransAmériques). His final work, at Quat'Sous, was the direction of Suzie Bastien's Le Désire de Gobi (January, 2000). In January 2002 he co-directed, with Serge Denoncourt, the Jean-Luc Lagarce play Juste la find du monde at Espace Go.
Profile by Gaetan Charlebois
Last updated 2020-04-17
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The Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia web site was originally conceived and developed in 1996 by Gaetan Charlebois—theatre critic, playwright, and actor.
