Tête-à-têtes with your local elected officials
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In a candid interview, The Record had the opportunity to speak with a local theatre talent and current Lennoxville borough councillor Guillaume Lirette-Gélinas, who has made significant strides in both his artistic and political careers. He shared insights into his background, his journey into theatre, and his recent political endeavours. Here’s an in-depth look into his life, career, and vision for the community.
Lirette-Gélinas was born in Stratford, a town in the Townships near Aylmer Lake. He stayed in the area until he was 17, before leaving to study in Sherbrooke.
“I did my CEGEP at CEGEP de Sherbrooke, focusing initially on literature, and then I specialized in theatre,” he said.
His passion for theatre led him to pursue further studies in acting techniques.
“I studied in Europe for a couple of years, focusing on physical… theatre. It was an amazing experience that profoundly shaped my approach to theatre,” he explained.
During his time in Europe, he was exposed to diverse theatrical traditions, which broadened his understanding and appreciation of the art form.
After completing his studies, he returned to Sherbrooke and founded his own theatre company, Antipodes Theatre. The company focused on research theatre, starting from hypotheses rather than just pure entertainment.
“Our main interest was in emotional understanding—how can an audience grasp something even without direct language access?” he elaborated. This innovative approach set Antipodes apart and allowed them to explore complex themes and emotions in their productions.
His academic journey didn’t stop there. He continued to explore theatre in Europe, particularly in Poland and Ireland.
“I was fortunate to observe and work with the Polish group Schola Wegajty, which was an eye-opening experience,” he shared. The group’s experimental techniques and commitment to pushing the boundaries of theatre left a lasting impression on him.
Later, during his master’s degree in Ireland, he performed with them in various countries, including Ukraine and Serbia. “Despite being offered… [to pursue my] doctorate, I decided to return home due to personal reasons, including the challenging Irish weather. It rains 265 days a year there, and that got the best of me,” he chuckled.
