Compagnons de Saint-Laurent

Les Compagnons de Saint-Laurent was a theatre company that was founded in August 1937 at Collège de Saint-Laurent in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, by Émile Legault, Roger Varin, and Léonide Lavinge.[1] According to The Canadian Encyclopedia it was the "[...] most influential theatrical company in the history of Québec".[2] The company dissolved in 1951.[1][3]

History

Financial support at the debut of the company was provided by Léonide (Bobby) Lavinge, the father of François Lavinge, one of the original members of the company. Although his father did not support his son's choice of profession as an actor (and disinherited him for this reason), he still provided considerable financial support of the company. Among others, he bought the property and the farm which served as a rehearsal place for the company. According to his son, the building was cold and difficult to heat in the winter and the members of the company did not like those conditions. Léonide would eventually sell the property, which was later purchased by Félix Leclerc for his home residence. The property is now a Quebec cultural heritage site.[4]

In 1947, Les Compagnons de Saint-Laurent were awarded the Trophée Bessborough at a festival in London, Ontario.[5]

Notable actors
Taken in 1944; actors (left to right): Jean Coutu, Bertrand Gagnon, Yves Vien, Félix Leclerc, Andrée Vien, Guy Provost, Hélène Loiselle, George Groux, Lucille Cousineau, Denise Vachon, Émile Legault, and Thérèse Cadorette

Legacy
A wall at the Parc des Compagnons de Saint-Laurent

In 1996, a park was named after the theatre company.[17] A former boarding school was demolished when the park was being established.[18] It is located on 4375 Cartier Street.[19]

In 1997, Jean-Claude Labrecque directed the film L'Adventure des Compagnons de Saint-Laurent, a documentary about the history and impact of the company and the work of Émile Legault. The film was produced by the National Film Board of Canada and Verseau International.[20]

See also

References
  1. "Histoire de Saint-Laurent". Ville de Montreal. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  2. Douchette, Leonard. "Émile Legault". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  3. "Dissolution de la troupe de théâtre Les Compagnons de Sauint-Laurent". Bilan du siècle. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. "Maison Félix-Leclerc". Culture et Communications Québec. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. Robillard, Denise (2005). Les merveilles de l'Oratoire: l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal, 1904-2004. Les Editions Fides. p. 333. ISBN 2762126150.
  6. Charlebois, Gaëtan. "Compagnons de Saint-Laurent". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  7. Bourassa, Andre. "Jean-Louis Roux". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  8. Carle, Alexandre. "George Groux". Les Gens du Cinéma. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  9. Soucy, Louise-Maude. "Guy Provost s'éteint à 79 ans". Le Devoir. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  10. Charlebois, Gaëtan; Nothof, Anne. "Loiselle, Hélène". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  11. Lévesque, Solange. "Loiselle, Hélène". Les Prix du Québec. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  12. "Coutu (Jean)". La Mémoire du Québec en ligne. Communications Cournoyer Inc. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  13. "Guy Mauffette (1915-2005)". Ordre National du Québec. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  14. Roy, Bruno; Rioux, Christian; Ménard, Denise; Plouffe, Hélène. "Félix Leclerc". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  15. Faucher, Jean. "Un autre regard sur le théâtre". Érudit. Solange Lévesque. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  16. "Square Thérèse-Cadorette Named in Honour of Compagnons de Saint-Laurent Actress". Ville de Montréal. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  17. David, Gilbert (2013). "Inscriptions théâtrales dans l'espace urbain : le cas de Montréal". JEU. 149 (4): 76. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  18. Dufranne, Quentin. "Le parc des Compagnons-de-Saint-Laurent se refait une beauté". Métro. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  19. "Parc des Compagnons-de-Saint-Laurent". Montreal.ca. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  20. "L'aventure des Compagnons de Saint-Laurent [DVD] / de Jean Claude Labreque ; idée originale, Hélène Jasmin-Bélisle". Bibliothèque Famille Bleviss. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
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