Daniel Meilleur 1951-2024 | The theater world mourns an exemplary creator

The man of the theater Daniel Meilleur died on Saturday, at the age of 73, at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Hospital, following complications from a long illness. Co-founder of the Théâtre de la Marmaille, which became Les 2 Mondes, in 1993, the actor and director has worked across the globe, touring with flagship shows, such as Cry to laugh (600 performances) and Terre promiseco-produced with Italy.

Pierre MacDuff, his friend and accomplice in the artistic direction of Les 2 Mondes until 2013, paid tribute to him on Facebook this weekend. By highlighting his major contribution to theatrical creation and research in Quebec. “Daniel was part of the first team recruited by Monique Rioux in a research group which would become the Théâtre de la Marmaille in 1973. With her and France Mercille, he played in practically all of the company’s creations over the 20 years. following. The shows [qu’il a dirigé] allowed the company to be present in 33 countries and generated invitations from several international festivals, in addition to obtaining several awards over the years. »

In the 70s and 80s, the actor played in children’s plays with fanciful titles: Life on three floors ; We’re not school kids ; These are so “cute” children. In the following decades, Daniel Meilleur staged shows for adults and young spectators, such as The story of the gooseby Michel Marc Bouchard (546 performances); Leitmotif et RAM by Normand Canac-Marquis. The creator then addresses themes of strong social significance, such as war, the transmission of violence, enslavement to child labor in poor countries.

“I can’t trace his entire tremendous career. But I would like to take advantage of this departure, which upsets me, to highlight the importance of Daniel Meilleur in the landscape of Quebec creative theater. I salute his rigor, his passion, his generosity and his extraordinary theatrical work,” wrote author Louis-Dominique Lavigne also on Facebook.

A discreet and unabashed artist, Daniel Meilleur was in his own way an artisan and an ambassador of Quebec theater in the world. His departure reminds us of a significant, exciting and very active era of creation and young theater in Quebec.