Since Make the walls screama brand new creation produced by the Théâtre le clou, until Pomelo, shadow theater without words carried by puppets, through the annual Teen Theater Meeting (RTA), without forgetting the Petits bonheurs festival, the youth theater teems with vibrant creations. A quick stop on these inviting proposals.
Make the walls scream. A teenager from Montreal, Jade discovers the universe of the British artist known under the pseudonym of Banksy. The mystery surrounding this man, whom she suspects is her father, prompts her to fly to England where she hopes to find answers to her questions. Creators behind I am Williamauthor Rébecca Déraspe and director Sylvain Scott are once again uniting their talents around Make the walls scream, a piece of music — led by multi-instrumentalist Laurie Torres — that is as much about the power of art as it is about family heritage and self-discovery. The text of Rébecca Déraspe is also crossed by songs interpreted by the actors. All of this bodes well. It can be seen at the Maison-Théâtre, from March 23 to April 3.
Four girls. Still in the department of pieces for teenagers, Julie-Anne Ranger-Beauregard offers four girlsan adaptation of the famous Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, this indestructible American classic published in 1868. In a staging by Louis-Karl Tremblay, the author immerses us in the middle of the Civil War in the daily life of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, young girls distinct from each other, but carried by hope. Camped between adolescence and adulthood, the March sisters tame life, question their meaning and discover themselves through it. The words of these young girls always resonate with conviction. Presented at the Denise-Pelletier theater from March 16 to April 9.
Pomelo. Toddlers are not left out with Pomelo, a play created by the Théâtre Les ombres folles. The little pink elephant as tall as three apples – imagined by Ramona Badescu and Benjamin Chaud in a series of albums published by Albin Michel – comes to life in the theater thanks to Maxime Després and Maude Gareau. The piece created in 2021 for ages 3 and up features this hero as he discovers the garden that surrounds him. Snail, frog, rain, snow, strawberry and other beauties of nature fill the heart of this endearing little pachyderm who has become a puppet through the magic of the theatre. On view from April 20 to 1er May at the Maison-Théâtre.
The Scriptarium. The Théâtre le clou renews its now famous writing incubator, the aptly named Scriptarium. And this year, the essential role of the curator, the one who makes young budding authors think by presenting them with a writing angle, has been entrusted to the Honorable Louise Arbour. Depending on the judge’s expertise, young people will have to question the very broad notion of justice, imagine causes and be convincing when it comes to defending them. The show will be presented in turn at the Denise-Pelletier theater in Montreal and at the Gros Becs in Quebec City in May.
Teen theater meeting. Teenagers will also be able to meet in Laval around their big annual meeting. In the programming of this creative theater festival, we will retain And we’ll camp on the moon, a creation on the conquest of space laid by the Théâtre Les Marcels, which offers here an ode to the “creepy who wanted to touch the stars”. Puppetry, object theater and clown games will take place from April 4 to 6. See also, Hegemony by Maxime Mompérousse, who questions masculinity, identity and existence through the prism of adolescence. Will these young boys become “real men”? The answer will be given from March 28 to 1er April at the Maison des arts de Laval.
Little pleasures. A completely different subject for a completely different audience, Petits bonheurs, the theatrical rendezvous for children aged 0 to 6, returns for an 18and season. Montreal will host 138 performances, including 17 shows and 6 new Quebec creations. Among them, nonsense, a play by Cabane Théâtre. 4-year-olds are invited to discover the story of three somewhat rogue characters who will be decked out in donkey ears. From May 6 to 15, in the Maisonneuve-Rosemont district.