Working closely together for the past 18 years, Hélène Ducharme and Sylvain Massé founded Théâtre Motus. Their roles vary depending on the productions, but it is always as creators that they have been developing their shared artistic approach.
As resident playwright for Théâtre Motus, she has written and directed the company’s last three creations: Terrible Two, Inuussia, the seal woman and BULLES, Winter legends for micro-puppets.
She develops challenging scripts for young audiences. With these productions, she explores her passion for puppetry, acting and shadow theatre. Throughout the creative process, her respect for children has led her to work closely with them. Her training as a teacher helped her create educational activities and initiate workshop projects related to the performances.
Along with the company’s activities, she has been involved in the Maison Théâtre’s artistic committee. From 1998 to 2001, she sat on the board of directors of the Centre des auteurs dramatiques organization working on setting up the Cartes blanches event for playwrights. She has written numerous plays for teenagers and adults and co-scripted an NFB animation film with Co Hoderman.
He directed Bellybutton and has been a part of all Théâtre Motus research teams, including Terrible Two, Inuussia, the seal woman and BULLES, Winter legends for micro-puppets.
As an actor, he has been featured in many productions, on stage in Man of la Mancha, A Few Good Men, Charbonneau et le Chef (Jean-Duceppe company), Modern Nô plays (Théâtre du Rideau Vert company) and Le Chien (Théâtre du Nouvel Ontario company); also on film in Pierre Houle’s Monica la Mitraille, Charles Binamé’s Un homme et son péché and Claude Lelouch’s Chance or Coincidence; on TV in Cornemuse, Omerta, 4 et demi, L’Ombre de l’épervier, Caserne 24, l’Auberge du Chien noir and lastly as a TV guest contributor on L’été c’est péché, La Revanche des Nerdz 2 and Pura Vida.
Known for his social and political involvement, he has been on various Union des artistes committees and has recently been nominated Chair of the Board of Directors of the Conseil Québécois du Théâtre association.