François Barbeau
With his remarkable knowledge of the history of clothing and an exceptional sense of theatricality in his costumes, François Barbeau is one of Canada’s best-known and most respected stage artisans. An internationally renowned designer, since 1958 he has created the costumes for hundreds of ballets, operas, circuses, and plays: Hedda Gabler (1969) by Ibsen at the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Tartuffe (1982) and L’Avare (1963) by Molière at the TNM, to name but a few. Resident designer at the Théâtre du Rideau Vert since 1962, his contribution to L’Oiseau Bleu (1968) by Maeterlinck had made a huge impression at the time. He regularly collaborates with Montreal’s major theatre companies and, along with director Jacques Lassalle, created Les Estivants (1984) by Gorki at the Comédie-Française
. He has also directed over 50 plays since 1984. He trained countless artists during his 25 years at the National Theatre School of Canada where he taught and directed the Set and Costume Design Program. François Barbeau continues to be a leading designer, and many generations of designers consider this man to be their mentor.
Biography from: ArtsAlive.ca French Theatre
About François Barbeau:
- “François Barbeau : le maître” Sophie Pouliot, Jeu 99, 2001, p. 109-113.
- Centre National du Costume (CNC) website
