On December 9, 2025, Nancy Bussières, co-investigator at UQAM, and her collaborators were honored by the Association Québécoise des Critiques de Théâtre(AQCT), which awarded them the Critics’ Award for Best Scenic Design 2024–2025. This distinction recognizes the production De Glace, presented at Théâtre Prospero by the company L’eau du bain.
The award highlights the excellence of the collective scenic writing, crafted by Nancy Bussières, Karine Galarneau, Guillaume Saindon, and Thomas Sinou. This recognition underscores the relevance and strength of a collaborative approach, where shared creativity becomes the driving force behind artistic innovation.
De Glace: A Sensory Writing
The play stood out for its artistic approach of rare intensity, blending originality and emotion. Its dreamlike atmosphere, shrouded in mystery and majesty, transcended the stage to envelop the audience, offering an immersive experience like no other.
The ingenious use of a synecdochic soundscape, accessible through an individual headphone system, captivated the jury. This setup allowed each spectator to dive into an intimate and engaging sonic dimension. Added to this was a remarkable lighting design: a spectrum of cold colors, sometimes diffuse, sometimes saturated, which reinforced the dramatic tension and visual power of the performance.
This scenic richness could not have achieved such precision without the technical support and residencies provided by Hexagram-UQAM, which played a key role in developing the sound and lighting systems.
ⒸMaryse Boyce
A Scenic Design That Stands Out
The scenography, both vivid and evocative, created a space where the characters’ emotions—loss, hope, surrender—were experienced in perfect symbiosis with the audience. This aesthetic and narrative coherence is the result of a fruitful meeting between visionary designers, orchestrated by an inspired direction.
It is this boldness, mastery, and ability to leave a lasting impression that earned the AQCT jury’s recognition and this prestigious award.
About
Nancy Bussières is a professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal. She is co-founder of Labo lumière [creations + interdisciplinary research] and Scéno-Lab [research in contemporary scenographic practices]. She is also a member of Matralab (inter-x art) and the Center for Sensory Studies at Concordia University.
L’eau du bain is led by Anne-Marie Ouellet, creator-researcher and director; Thomas Sinou, sound designer and digital artist; and Nancy Bussières, artist-researcher working on the dynamic integration of light into the performing arts. Inventing a fascinating artistic language that combines theater, performance, and installation, the trio draws from both reality and sensibility to create touching and utterly captivating worlds. The company’s recent productions, White Out and La chambre des enfants, were highly acclaimed at the FTA in 2023.
