Théâtre du Bic

Standing at the gateway to the city of Rimouski on an exceptional site, the Théâtre du Bic was renovated and enlarged by the architectural partnership of Cardin Julien and PROUXSAVARD.

Programme

The former barn of the Théâtre du Bic had not benefitted from major renovations in many years. In order to better respond to the cultural needs of this important creative outlet for Bas-St-Laurent, the city of Rimouski wished to realise a renovation and enlargement plan long awaited by its users. It aimed to add practice rooms and vertical circulation spaces, as well as optimise the stage area to be more flexible to different productions. The foyer was also to be refurbished to offer an inviting space for the audience before and after performances.

The new performance space now offers 192 comfortable seats for an optimal theater experience. The theratre now boasts more spacious dressing rooms, a green room and cocreation spaces to welcome artists in residence. The added storage space for stage sets and costumes further contribute to the function of the building.

The design team had the preoccupation to preserve the architectural identity of the location, preserving the skeleton of the original barn and pairing it with contemporary elements. The barn section was clad with pine, while the extensions were built with engineered wood cladding blending nicely with the original cachet.

The further interventions on the building make it more universally accessible and perform better energetically. This allowed the building to offer year-round performances, thanks to more its better climate control.

An bronze and aluminium sculpture mandated by the Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture, Entre fleuve et montagne by sculptor Marc-Antoine Côté, sits on the façade.

Since the first performances in the 70s and 80s, when the barn was located in the Bic National Park, the Théâtre du Bic and its residence troupe, Théâtre des Gens d’en bas, dreamed of a performance and creative space living up to their ambitions, a dream which has now been achieved.

As an important cultural landmark for the city of Rimouski and the Quebec cultural scene, the Théâtre du Bic gets a fresh new face! Through the renovation and extension of the existing building, the project aims to present an architecture respectful of its location and harmoniously integrated within the local landscape.