Olivier Arteau

Olivier Arteau is an LGBTQIA2+ artist of white colonial descent. His work explores the fusion of kitsch, buffoonery, and tragedy. Leveraging his theatre training at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec, Arteau is the brains behind works such as Doggy dans Gravel, Made in Beautiful (La belle province), Pisser debout sans lever sa jupe and the durational performance piece La pudeur des urinoirs. For his first big stage production at Théâtre du Trident, Arteau decided to isolate himself for a month to deepen his understanding of the thirst for the absolute that drives the indomitable Antigone. His efforts earned him a critic’s choice award from Quebec theatre critics (Prix de la critique) for best production. He has also had the opportunity to direct works by Anne-Marie Olivier (Maurice), Charles Fournier (Foreman, in collaboration with Marie-Hélène Gendreau) and David Paquet (L'éveil du printemps). Arteau has graced the stage in productions such as Hope Town by Pascale Renaud-Hébert and the poetic Je me soulève, staged by Véronique and Gabrielle Côté. He also appeared in Alexandre Fecteau’s stage adaptation of the novel N'essuie jamais de larmes sans gants. He has been the co-executive director and artistic director of Théâtre du Trident since 2022.