Normand Chouinard

Chouinard, Normand

Normand Chouinard, actor (b at Québec City, 21 June 1948). After law studies at l'Université Laval, Normand Chouinard was called to the Bar in 1971, then took up theatre studies at the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Québec and received his diploma in 1974. By 1972 he had performed onstage at the Trident in Charbonneau et le chef, followed by En attendant Godot (1974) and La Nuit des rois (1975). Companies in the city soon opened their doors to him and he appeared at the Théâtre d'Aujourd'hui, the Nouvelle Compagnie Théâtrale and the Théâtre Expérimental de Montréal, in Garden Party, which toured Europe in 1977.

The same year, Normand Chouinard made his debut at the THÉÂTRE DU NOUVEAU MONDE (TNM) in Victor Hugo's Mangeront-ils directed by Jean Dalmain, and in Le Balcon by Jean Genet, directed by André BRASSARD. He performed mainly at the TNM, and during the 1983-1984 season was part of the permanent troupe set up by then artistic director, Olivier Reichenbach. Chouinard displayed exceptional talent in all styles, offering refined interpretations in major roles, notably in works by Molière, portraying Tartuffe (in 1983), Scapin (in 1986), Arnolphe (in L'École de femmes, 1990) and George Dandin (in 1994); and in three Goldoni productions directed by Guillermo de Andrea: Arlequin, serviteur de deux maîtres (1984), Les Deux Jumeaux vénitiens (1986) and La Trilogie de la villégiature (1991). His masterful performance in Les Deux Jumeaux... was one of his most brilliant. In addition to a memorable Vladimir in En attendant Godot (1992), he also performed Labiche (Un chapeau de paille d'Italie, 1988) and Feydeau (La Puce à l'oreille, 1990). In later years, he was in the cast of Don Quichotte (1998), Les Joyeuses Commères de Windsor (2002) and Le Procès (2004).

Normand Chouinard was also in demand by other companies: the Nouvelles Variétés Lyriques (Orphée aux enfers, 1986), le THÉÂTRE DU RIDEAU VERT (Tailleur pour dame, 1992), and la Compagnie Jean-Duceppe (L'Ouvre-boîte, 1992). He was seen regularly at the Théâtre des Grands Chênes, where he became co-proprietor in 1991. He directed frequently at his own theatre in Kingsey Falls and at the Trident, the Rideau Vert and TNM.

On television, he worked as an actor and scriptwriter. Among his many programs were: Du tac au tac (1976-81), Bye-Byes (1981, 1983, 1987), Samedi de rire (1984-89), and Les Poupées russes (2000-04). He appeared in Jacques Leduc's film Trois Pommes à côté du sommeil, Charles Binamé's Un homme et son péché and Denise FILIATRAULT'sMa vie en cinemascope. Active in diverse theatre organizations, Normand Chouinard chaired the Conseil québécois du théâtre (1991-93) and headed the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montréal (1995-2001).