Jean-François Aubé Wins His Second Antidote Cup

At the Coupe Charade finals held on May 11 at MTELUS, Jean-François Aubé was presented the Antidote Cup for his performances over the 2026 season. Sponsored by Druide informatique, this award recognizes adept use of the French language during the spirited improv matches organized by the Théâtre de la Ligue Nationale d’Improvisation (LNI), an improvisational comedy theatre company.

The Antidote Cup was created in honour of Yvon Leduc, co-founder of the LNI and a passionate advocate for the French language, who inspired generations of improv artists throughout the French-speaking world. At the end of each match, the player who was most proficient in their use of French earns a star; at the end of the season, the person who scored the most stars takes home the cup. During the 2026 season, Aubé was awarded an Antidote star for three of the five matches in which he played.

Aubé first won the Antidote Cup in 2011 and now adds this second award to his impressive resume. He has won six other individual prizes, including the Recrue de l’année in 2000 and the Marcel-Sabourin Trophy, given to the player most appreciated by their peers, in 2013, 2016 and 2017. In 2022, he received the Robert-Lepage Trophy for the improv of the year, along with Émilie Lajoie. He also won the Coupe Charade twice, in 2016 and 2023. He is a multidisciplinary artist and was the singer and bassist in Laymen Twaist from 1988 to 2001. He has been specializing in voice-overs for more than 20 years. His various music projects are available on Bandcamp.

A performance laboratory and a leading Quebec theatre company, the Théâtre de la LNI is dedicated to exploring, producing and promoting theatrical improvisation. In addition to its Coupe Charade matches, tours and other productions, the LNI hosts workshops, courses and shows for both schools and businesses. Nearly 60,000 people attend its activities annually.

Druide informatique has been specializing in artificial intelligence and computational linguistics since 1993. The company produces and markets Antidote, the most comprehensive writing assistance software available for English and French, as well as Typing Pal, the renowned typing tutorial application. In addition to its software, Druide also publishes French-language literature and reference works through its subsidiary, Éditions Druide.