'Turn on the spotlights' is a mural tribute to the theater company Les Zybrides and its founders
Known by this name since 1988, this professional theater company is an extension of the Théâtre de Coppe founded in 1973. Born with the desire to give a place of expression to regional dramaturgy, the company's first goal was to create texts by regional authors, including the entire work of Jeanne-Mance Delisle, as well as numerous collective creations. This choice had the effect of contributing to the development of a regional cultural identity.
The Troupe has subsequently evolved by integrating the most current artistic trends with different theatrical forms. In this way, the company frequently collaborates with the community by creating works of intervention theater.
In November 2001, 'Les Zybrides' acquired the Canadian Corps community hall and transformed it into the Petit Théâtre du Vieux-Noranda. In addition to rehearsals, workshops and performances, The Troupe rents the space for shows and events. Today, the organization still bears the name 'Les Zybrides' theater group but is publicly recognized as the Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda.
To the left of the mural, we see playwright Jeanne-Mance Delisle surrounded by her characters, played by Rachel Lortie among others. At the heart of the piece, in a red dress and with arms wide open, is the late Lise Pichette, one of the artists most involved in the Petit Théâtre's current mission to give a place of choice to emerging creators. On the right is Alice Pomerleau in a dressing room, preparing for the stage. Through them, the characters come from different eras of theatrical productions, up to the most recent ones, such as Alexandre Castonguay's Ma Noranda and Jocelyne Saucier's Bascule sur la route des grunambules.
In addition to the portraits of these women who have marked the history of Rouyn-Noranda since the 1980s, the muralists wished to highlight all the creative madness, the love of creative theater and the uninhibited audacity that these artists have instilled in the cultural and social landscape.