For 35 years, promoting the art of puppetry has been Théâtre de l’Œil’s “raison d'être”. As a company focused on research and new productions, the spirit of innovation which it embodies is expressed in its productions for young audiences, in its capacity to promote them, and in its professional training activities. The objectives of the company are to seek contact with young spectators through passion and intelligence, to propose and instill the appreciation of a variety of worlds by relying on the force of theatrical images, to tell stories which find resonance in the imagination of children, making them laugh, dream and reflect. With a desire to diversify and enrich the art of puppetry, Théâtre de l’Œil favours alternating or mixing diverse type of puppets. Thanks to its scenography designs, the ingenuity of its puppets and the originality of the proposed themes, Théâtre de l’Œil has built up a solid reputation in Quebec, Canada and internationally. Founded in 1973 by Francine Saint-Aubin and André Laliberté, the current artistic director, Théâtre de l’Œil has created twenty-three original productions. Among these, Le Porteur / The Star Keeper, which premiered in 1997, is without question an immense success, having been performed more than 600 times in Europe, Asia and North America, winning numerous awards in Quebec, Canada and the United States. With 35 touring seasons and more than 4500 performances in Quebec, Canada and abroad, Théâtre de l’Œil has reached more than a million spectators in a dozen countries. – 2009-03-23