Paul on the boards
At the start of the season, we will monitor the Paul at home of the Trident, which will provide an opportunity to commune around the celebrated work of Michel Rabagliati. After a film adaptation (Paul in Quebec) in 2015, the comic book artist’s work will experience its baptism of the boards under the pen of Anne-Marie Olivier. She is the creator of 15 Ways to Find Yourself and of Mauritiusanchored in everyday life, which will have the task of rendering the simplicity felt by the cartoonist by diving into the darker notes of this tenth Paul — the character will be played here by Hugues Frenette. It will be interesting to see what color the staging of Lorraine Side (Rashomon, For the rest of the world) at this unifying moment.
Quebec’s turn
The opening of the season will give us another unifying project to watch: a seventh iteration of the project The assemblyfrom Spokesperson (I like Hydro, All inclusive). The project, since its creation in 2017, has been traveling from city to city to hear the opposing opinions of citizens, at a time of our obvious divisions. The text, taken from on-site interviews, explores each time the social and political issues that divide, turning a mirror of our tensions towards us. After Montreal, São Paulo and Munich, in particular, The assembly – Quebecat La Bordée under the care ofAlexandre Fecteauwill invite around the same table a left-wing activist, a libertarian businessman, a young Wendat storyteller and a social economy worker with traditional values.
Expected sequels
In the chapter of voices to follow, The famous Quebec Woman will allow us to reconnect with the writing of Cristina Moscini, whose monologue noted in the 5 to 7 of La Bordée revealed a raw, but generous writing. Here she is given a large platform for her story of a woman who, for a TV show, will be forced to join forces with a star YouTuber. Directed by Nancy Bernierthis comedy following the footsteps of a star of the 1960s and 1970s song clubs will explore the link between generations, as well as the world of cabarets and nightlife that already infiltrated the previous work, Loving each other well packaged.
Our curiosity is also piqued regarding The Soldier’s Story of Jocelyn Pelletier. After his chiseled direction of Sunday in Sodom last season, it will be interesting to see what the director will be able to draw from this mime drama by Stravinsky. The devil and war will then be transposed into our present with its obvious conflicts, with the help of the video game. A gamer will act as an intermediary between the public and the soldier, in an intriguing arrangement for three actors and six musicians.
Possible surprises
Among the discoveries, we will keep an eye on Premier Acte, where A compost aftertaste opens the season. Based on a text by the young Anne-Virginie Bérubé, a woman recounts the disappearance of her older brother, who resurfaces after a long radio silence. Directed by Nathalie Seguinthis closed-door session for two actors will address possible connections by exploring the themes of eating disorders and depression.
Let’s also watch out The day everything went wrongon the Periscope side. The director Philippe Soldevila will be there with his gang from the Théâtre Sortie de Secours to report on the crazy mishap that struck the theater troupe which, at the end of the pandemic, saw bad luck befall its current work: a show on climate denial… which ultimately will not take place.
The return of the child
After its creation three years ago and a stint at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde last fall, the Courville of Robert Lepage returns home to Le Diamant — very close to the northern suburbs that he stages. The time capsule of Ex Machina, which delves into the creator’s youth, returns here in a tighter version, with Lepage this time handing over the interpretation. Amidst the puppets and stage inventions, it is Olivier Normand who will pilot this sensitive exploration of the troubles of adolescence.
In terms of stage ingenuity, the Place D’Youville theatre will also host the Nufonia Must Fall from Montreal’s Kid Koala (The Storyville Mosquito). Created ten years ago, this story of a robot in love with an office worker, inspired by the graphic novel by the artist and DJ, will make its first trip to Quebec. Under the direction of KK Barrettwith a string section and Koala on the decks, the technicians will build this fanciful story live, projected on the big screen, between theater, cinema and music.
Let’s finally name the project Vernon Subutex by Angela Konrad, passing through the same Diamant. Virginie Despentes’ story will be offered one evening in the seven-hour version offered by the trilogy.