The théâtre de la Vieille Forge, Petite-Vallée completely destroyed by the flames

Photo Airdrones Gaspésie
The Theatre of Old Forge is nothing more than a pile of debris in Petite-Vallée.

Stephanie Gendron

Tuesday, 15 August, 2017 08:47

UPDATE
Tuesday, 15 August 2017 15:17

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LITTLE-VALLEY | Dismay in the Gaspé, while the Théâtre de la Vieille Forge, Petite-Vallée, in the heart of the famous Festival song, was completely destroyed by flames early Tuesday morning. Emblem cultural village, this national treasure is nothing more than a pile of debris.

Not later than the day before, volunteers of the famous Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée gathered in the theatre for a little party. “We did a quiz to find out how many photo-memories of the artists were on the walls. There were 110, there is nothing more”, dropped sadly to the mayor of Petite-Vallée Rodrigue Brousseau.

The Festival director, Alan Side was one of the first arrived on site. “Once I was assured that there was no one there, I cried my half-hour, I screamed after life. Yes there are beautiful memories, but the important thing is what I have in the head,” said Alan Côté, founder of the Café de la Vieille Forge 35 years ago, became a theatre a few years later and helps to ensure the work to forty people.

Photo Marc-Antoine Dufresne

The flames started around 5 a.m. in the morning in the south-eastern part of the theatre which was made out of wood. The maintenance man was the first witness. “The only thing we know is that the concierge said that the fire was on the outside when it is realized,” stated the director of the fire service, Grande-Vallée, Dominique Lamy. A survey will be conducted to determine the exact causes. The damages are estimated at$2.5 Million.

“A counselor came knocking at my door this morning to warn me and my heart stopped, I wondered if this was not a nightmare,” said the mayor Brousseau. It is made on-site, such as number of residents, many in tears. “There’s nothing left.”

Shows were scheduled for this week in the theatre, including that of Michel Rivard. They were moved to the Camp song Quebecor, which can accommodate 150 people. Michel Rivard has shared his dismay on his page Facebook, by saying that “the whole song in quebec is in mourning.” In fact, the majority of authors-composers-performers in quebec are products on the stage of this theatre in recent decades.

Reconstruction

In just a few hours after the fire, while the theatre was no more than debris, we addressed the topic of reconstruction.

Photo Marc-Antoine Dufresne

To the great manitou of the festival, which took place this year from 29 June to 9 July, a new theatre must be built for the edition in 2018.

“The minister St-Pierre (Christine) and the minister Fortin (Luke) called me up and assured me of their support. We know that insurance, it can be long, we will ask the government to help us to enable us to immediately leave with the plans and specifications. It should be ready to build in November for the festival next year,” said Alan Lavoie.