Jasmine Dubé

Dubé, Jasmine

Jasmine Dubé, actor, playwright, director, author (b at Amqui, Que 11 Apr 1957). Cofounder and artistic director of the Théâtre Bouches Décousues, Jasmine Dubé has maintained an artistic commitment to young audiences for 30 years. However, her work extends beyond theatre, as she also writes storybooks and novels for youth, as well as television scripts - always for children. Her many prizes and distinctions over the years attest to the quality of her work.

An acting graduate of the NATIONAL THEATRE SCHOOL OF CANADA in 1978, Jasmine Dubé has since then undertaken many theatrical ventures as an actor, particularly with Le Théâtre de la Marmaille (now Les Deux Mondes). In the Gaspésie region, she joined the Théâtre Pince-Farine for the 1981 premiere of La Gaspésie quand on y vit, and in 1984, she starred in David Lonergan's one-woman show Caméléonne directed by Claude Poissant, and performed it more than 100 times. In Montréal, during the same period, she collaborated with Théâtre Petit à Petit (PàP), acting in René Richard Cyr's Girafes in 1983. Jasmine Dubé was cast in Les paradis n'existent plus Jeanne d'Arc (dir. Alice Ronfard, 1985), La Déposition (dir. Hélène Pedneault, 1988), and Baby Blues (dir. Carole Fréchette, 1991).

With Bouches décousues, her first play written alone (dir. Louis-Dominique Lavigne, 1984), Dubé's career as an author took flight. This hard-hitting work on the taboo subject of sexual abuse of children who often dare not expose their torturers, was presented more than 350 times in Canada and abroad. Then, Jasmine Dubé and several partners founded the Théâtre Bouches Décousues, where she remains the artistic director. She partially gave up acting to devote herself to writing, and produced about 20 plays, most for young audiences. Petit Monstre (1992) shows the tender relationship between a father and his son; Pierrette Pan, ministre de l'Enfance et des produits dérivés (1994) portrays a Minister of Childhood who hates children; La Bonne Femme (1995) was performed solo by the author 260 times; Le Bain (1997), a bathtime tale, remains a classic in early childhood theatre; and L'Arche de Noémie (1998) explores the treasures of memory and imagination in the life of a young girl who is the sole survivor of a flood.

The early 2000s were productive for Jasmine Dubé the writer: La Mère Merle (2000); Le Pingouin (2001); the theatrical journey La Couturière (2004); and most recently a triptych with the general title Les Jardins d'enfants, in progress since 2007, which enabled her to increase her activities by combining artistic disciplines. Les Mauvaises Herbes, 3 plays for children aged 7 to 12, Marguerite for the very young (from 18 months), and Ginkgo et la Jardinière, for children 4 years and over and co-produced with the Théâtre Maât de Belgique, were created in 2010 for the 25th anniversary of the Théâtre Bouches Décousues. Over the years, along with her theatre work, Jasmine Dubé has also published 15 storybooks and 7 novels for children. Her work has been translated into English, Portuguese and Italian.

Many awards pay tribute to the excellence of Dubé's work and the theatre company she directs: best production for young audiences from the Association québécoise des critiques de théâtre for Petit Monstre (1992); 3 Masques (best production for young audiences, best play, best directing) from the Académie québécoise du théâtre for La Bonne Femme (1996); and several Audience Awards for Le Bain. In 1996, Jasmine Dubé received the Arthur-Buies Award for her body of work, and in 1998, the Médaille de la culture française. That same year, Artquimédia awarded her the Agathe de distinction for her national and international artistic influence. The Conseil des Arts de Montréal awarded its 2005 grand prize to the Théâtre Bouches Décousues for its tremendous contribution to the vitality and development of local theatre.