MOTOR OF CREATION AND EMOTIONS
Launched at the turn of the millennium, Motus celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021. We have produced 19 original pieces aimed at young audiences, performing them at the regional, national and international levels – racking up more than 2,200 performances here at home, and also abroad, in China, the U.S., Mexico, Spain, France, Switzerland, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Greece and Costa Rica.
We’ve performed for over 435,000 spectators. Several of our plays have been translated and performed in English, in Spanish, and two in Mandarin, as well as integrating 10 other languages into our pieces.
Motus works in the medium of puppetry arts, reveling in the freedom it offers in dramaturgy and staging, the perfect vehicle for stirring emotions and pushing formal boundaries. Co-artistic directors Hélène Ducharme et Mathilde Addy-Laird explore the relationship between puppets, acting, live music, black and color shadow theatre, and other complementary theatre forms.
Nominations and Awards
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2025 recipient of the Culture–Education Award from Culture Montérégie, presented during the 23rd edition of the Montérégie Arts and Culture Awards Gala.
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2024 Laureate of the Special Prize of the Association québécoise des critiques de théâtre for TREE: A World in Itself.
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2022 Laureate of the award Citoyen de la culture Andrée-Daigle for TREE: A World in Itself.
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2019 Laureate for social economy projects from Développement économique de l’agglomération de Longueuil
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Nomination for the Ambassador Award, Culture category, at the Gala de Longueuil, Excellence d’ici 2019.
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In June 2016, Motus was awarded the Arts Ambassador Prize by the Conseil des Arts de Longueuil.
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On February 18, 2014, Motus was awarded Quebec Arts Council’s (CALQ) Prize for the best Canada and U.S.A. tour. Baobab was the play on tour.
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Motus and Young People’s Theatre won the 2012 Dora Award for an outstanding production for young audiences for the performances of Baobab.
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Pour en finir avec … Cyrano won the 2011 Prix Accès Culture of the City of Montreal.
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Baobab has been honored with the 2009- 2010 Public’s Award at L’Arrière Scène, a regional presenter dedicated to young audiences, and was then also nominated in three categories.
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Baobab was also awarded the Prix de la critique 2010 (awarded by the Quebec Association of critics) in the Young Audience category.
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"Choeur de baobabs" mural project with children in cooperation with Théâtre de la Ville, received the Prix Éducation-Culture award at the Gala de la culture de Longueuil in 2009.
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Baobab first exploration project with children was rewarded in 2007 with the Prix Éducation-Culture award at the first Gala de la culture de Longueuil.
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Baobab was finalist for the Victor’s People Choice Award, in the 2010 edition of IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth).
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Bulles was nominated at the 2009 Gala, in the creation – performing arts category.
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Innussia, the seal woman was nominated for two Masque awards at the Soirée des Masques 2007 gala.
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At the Bourse RIDEAU 2004 event, Tiger by the tail won the first Cirque du Soleil award for the boldness, originality and quality of an artistic project by emerging professionals.
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BellyButton, the company’s first production, was nominated three times at the Soirée des masques 2004, including as the newcomer of the year.
Co-Artistic Directors
Hélène Ducharme is an author, director, actor, puppeteer, and co-founder of Motus Theatre. For the past 20 years, she has written, co-written, or co-adapted every Motus creation and directed most of the company’s productions. She explores her passion for puppetry, dramatic acting, and shadow theatre through her bold, adventurous texts and productions for young audiences. Deeply respectful of her young audience members, Hélène collaborates with children throughout her creative process. Her training as an educator allows her to design activities for each production. In addition to her work at Motus, Hélène is on the board of directors and several committees of the Centre des Auteurs Dramatiques (CEAD) and the Québec Association of Puppeteers (AQM). She is also treasurer of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette Canada (UNIMA-Canada) and the International Association of Theatres for Children and Young People Canada (ASSITEJ Canada).
Mathilde Addy-Laird is a creator, director, actor, and puppeteer. She has been creating contemporary works for over 15 years. The cornerstone of her work is the encounter: the encounter between a work and its words; between artist, audience, and material; and the encounter between human beings. Mathilde has collaborated with PPS Danse, Théatre AchanéE, Théâtre Advienne que Pourra, Qu'en dit Raton, and L'Allumette, Théâtre de Marionnettes. In addition to her creative work, she has co-directed a feminist theatre company for over 10 years, sat on the board of directors of three arts organizations, participated in the creation and publication of two poetry collections, and directed artists from diverse backgrounds. Mathilde has participated in numerous Motus creations since 2012 and joined the co-artistic direction team in 2022.
Reaching beyond their personal creative spaces, together Hélène et Mathilde shape the present and future of Motus.
Board of directors
President - Alain Roy
Corporate identity strategist
Treasurer - Pauline Deschamps
Strategic communications advisor
Corporation du Fort St-Jean
Secretary - Chloé Besner
Managing Director, Dynamo Théâtre
Administrator - Hélène Ducharme
Artistic and Executive co-Director, Motus Theater
Administrator - Esther Plante
Retired administrative judge
Administrator - Philomène Addy-Laird
Educational Advisor, Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Service Center
Administrator - Aya Mcheimeche
Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, FTA
Partners
