Our Success is Measured in the Success of the Artists We Work With

by admin | | 1.Landing Page, Marie-Claude St-Laurent, Marie-Ève Milot, News, Rhiannon Collett, Still Life

Our Success is Measured in the Success of the Artists We Work With

Over Covid 19, to help keep artists employed and ensure continued creative dialogue across distance, language & culture, Bouche Theatre Collective connected playwrights & translators, commissioned translations, and developed the new texts.

We are thrilled one of our first pandemic commissions is having it’s English Language Premiere!

TALISMAN THEATRE

STILL LIFE

By Marie-Ève Milot & Marie-Claude St-Laurent
Translated by Rhiannon Collett
Directed by Emma Tibaldo
Translated from Chienne(s)
More Info: www.talisman-theatre.com

Oct. 28 – Nov. 9, 2024

La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines
3700, Saint-Dominique street,
Montréal Qc, Canada

Still life is a brilliant study of a writer struggling with general anxiety disorder. Severely shaken by a panic attack on her birthday, she is bewildered as to the cause–she seems afraid of fear itself and becomes a shut-in! Alarmed by her retreat from society, her family and friends gather at her door to coax her out.

A candid look at anxiety, this feminist play criticizes performance-oriented culture. Still life illustrates how society responds when one falls short of the accomplishments expected at life’s first major milestone. It proposes that art can heal the past and provide hope for the future.

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM

Players / Acteurs:
Cara Rebecca, Joey Lespérance, Cary Lawrence, Anton May, & Nora Guerch.

Designers / Concepteurs:
Set Design / Décor : Lyne Paquette | Costume & Props Design / Costumes et des accessoires : Fruzsina Lanyi | Lighting Design / Lumière : Lucie Bazzo | Sound Design / Son : Jackie Gallant | Movement / Mouvement : Leslie Baker | Stage Manager / Régisseure : Elisabeth Nyveen.

This translation was commissioned by Bouche Theatre Collective and developed in association with Ruby Slippers Theatre (CAN) and British Equity (UK). We gratfully appreceiate the support of Canada Council for the Arts. and made possible with the support of Canada Council for the Arts

Meet our Playwrights & Translator

About the playwrights

Marie-Ève Milot & Marie-Claude St-Laurent are the Artistic Directors of Théâtre de l’Affamée. Mandated to invest in a (re) new Feminist/feminine theatre, they create complex characters that can be identified outside the binary mode of gender, question normativity and provoke new possibilities. Active members of Femmes pour l’Équité en Théâtre (F.E.T.), they co-wrote the Jeu magazine cry t action, addressing the under-representation of women in theatre, and created reference documents for students and faculty about the under-representation of women and the systems that marginalize them. They have written 8 works together including Cour à scrap – Portrait d’une famille reconstituée, Débranchée (Unplugged) (shortlisted for the prix Louise-LaHaye 2017) and Guérilla de l’ordinaire, (shortlisted for the prix Michel-Tremblay 2020). Their essay La coalition de la robe, co-written with Marie-Claude Garneau, was published in Editions du remue-ménage in 2017. Théâtre de l’Affamée

Marie-Ève Milot

(Elle)

Since graduating l’École de théâtre du Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, Marie-Eve Milot has been deeply involved in the theatre world. As an actress, she has collaborated with Hugo Bélanger (Princess Turandot, Pinocchio, Peter et Alice), Marc Beaupré (Ce samedi il pleuvait), Serge Denoncourt (Thérèse et Pierrette à l’École des Saints-Anges), Geneviève L. Blais (Si les oiseaux, Local B-1717) and Sébastien David Scratch. She was seen le Petit Théâtre de La Colline in Paris, in Les barbelés by Annick Lefebvre, staged by Alexia Boerger, and then remounted the show at the Théâtre de Quat’Sous. She can be seen on large and small screen (Les pays d’en haut, 5e rang).

Marie-Claude St-Laurent

(Elle)

Marie-Claude St-Laurent is an actor, author, feminist activist, co-editor of La Nef aux Éditions du remue-ménage. On the small screen, she was seen in the popular youth show Vrak La vie and is more recently as a cast member in L’écrivain public III and des Sioui-Bacon V. On stage, she produced Guérilla de l’ordinaire, Chienne(s), Toc Toc, Grease and Aller chercher demain. A member of the steering committee of Espace Go, and collaborated in the research study conducted by the RéQEF.

About the translator

Rhiannon Collett

(They, Them, Theirs)

Rhiannon Collett (they/them) is an award-winning non-binary playwright, performer, director and translator based in Vancouver. They are interested in interdisciplinary creation processes, sexual labour, gender performativity and science fiction. Their works include Miranda & Dave Begin Again, Wasp, Tragic Queens, and The Kissing Game, an urban fantasy revenge drama that explores love, betrayal, friendship and identity commissioned by Youtheatre (Montreal) and Young People’s Theatre (Toronto). It won the Montreal English Theatre Award for Outstanding New Text.

Rhiannon’s work has been presented internationally at the LungA festival in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, and at the Festival les Petites Formes in Fort-de-France, Martinique. Last year they were artist-in-residence at the Mauser Eco House in Costa Rica, and the Performing Arts Forum in St. Erme, France. www.rhiannoncollett.com

News & Development

Our Success is Measured in the Success of the Artists We Work With

Talisman Theatre
STILL LIFE
By Marie-Ève Milot & Marie-Claude St-Laurent
Translated by Rhiannon Collett
Directed by Emma Tibaldo
Translated from Chienne(s)

Oct. 28 – Nov. 9, 2024
La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines
(Montréal Canada)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PREMIERE

A Glimpse into New Translation: Still Life

By Marie-Ève Milot & Marie-Claude St-Laurent
Translated by Rhiannon Collett
Translated from Chienne(s) (Quebec, Canada)

“…this show crystallizes the revival of Quebec’s feminist theatre, it is a vibrant homage to art, the place of women to challenge everything, to turn everything upside down, to move from imprisonment to freedom.” – Le Devoir

Artists in Conversation – Contemporary Writing in Canada & USA

Tues, Feb 23 at 14:30 PST | Free
Co-writers Marie-Ève Milot and Marie-Claude St-Laurent with translator Rhiannon Collett join Brittany K. Allen (Studio Theatre, Washington USA) and Keith Barker (Playwrights Guild of Canada) in conversation and introduce excerpts from their latest works.

International New Translation Workshop: Chienne(S)

CHIENNE(S) By Marie-Ève Milot and Marie-Claude St-Laurent | Translated by Rhiannon Collett with British Equity WSW London Branch (Vancouver, Toronto and London)

Towards an Inclusive Theatre (Summerland, BC)

by admin | | 1.Landing Page, 3.Development, News

“…explores with great insight thematic territory I’ve never seen covered before… an intimate — and rewarding — conversation about love.” – Colin Thomas, colinthomas.ca

Ryga Arts Festival Presents
The Creatus Project & Bouche Theatre Collective
with Western Gold Theatre & Presentation House Theatre

THE BALLAD OF GEORGES BOIVIN

By Martin Bellemare
Translated by Jack Paterson with Johanna Nutter
Directed by Jack Paterson*
Featuring Allan Toots as Georges

Ryga Arts Festival (www.rygafest.ca)
Performance:
Thursday Sept. 22 @ 7 PM
Summerland Alliance Church
14820 Victoria Rd N, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z5

Community Forum – Ageing & the Arts:
Friday Sept. 23 @ 10 AM
St. Stephen Anglican Church
9311 Prairie Valley Rd, Summerland BC V0H

At 77, Georges Boivin “gives the dice a roll”. Georges just lost his wife, you see, the “centre of his universe”. But there is life after 70 and it must continue even after great loss. With his three friends, all older than he, he sets out on road trip from Québec to Vancouver, in search of a first love whom he hasn’t seen in 50 years. A play about love in all it’s various forms.

Followed by Community Chat About Aging in The Performing Arts

Allan Toots in The Ballad of Georges Boivin
(Ryga Arts Festival, Summerland 2024)

Gallery

Allan Toots in The Ballad of Georges Boivin (Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival 2024)
Photo: Ricardo Fernandez

Director/ Translator Notes

It is no secret that older artists might face age-related physical and cognitive changes. However, far greater impediments to their successful participation in the arts are the social stigmas of ageism and ableism.

On this project, we explored forms and aesthetics specifically from tools to support Senior artists in performance in rural touring. By “bringing the production to the performer”, we asked “what new is created when we make access integral to creation, design, rehearsal, and presentation processes?” And by doing so – draw attention to the needs of our ageing population in an intergenerational conversation and illuminate the experience of seniors’ day to day living.

The Creatus Project “Bakes Access & Accommodation into Creation”. This is done by identifying the barriers and needs of the senior performer creatively and structurally, addressing these barriers, and then integrating the solutions into all aspects of production.

Reimaging the production to elder actor Allan Toots, we decentralised memory from product, added memory prompts developed with Al (ex. set, props, sound cues, media, etc.), and created new text and staging to meet his accommodation. This “Artist First Approach” means each show is unique the unique performer.

2021 | English Language Premiere

Produced by Western Gold Theatre
In association with Bouche Theatre Collective
Featuring Jay Brazeau and John Innes alternating as Georges Boivin in repertory

November 10 – 28, 2021
PAL STUDIO THEATRE – 581 CARDERO STREET, VANCOUVER
www.westerngoldtheatre.org

This translation was commissioned by Western Gold Theatre (Vancouver) and developed by Bouche Theatre Collective (Vancouver). The English Language premiere of The Ballad of Georges Boivin was produced by Western Gold Theatre (PAL Vancouver Theatre, 2021) featuring Jay Brazeau and John Innes as Georges, directed by Jack Paterson We gratefully acknowledge the support of Canada Council for the Arts.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

Ingrid Turk, Kaeden Atkinson-Hill, Upintheair Theatre, Western Gold Theatre, Presentation House Theatre, & Supertitles.gr

Towards an Inclusive Theatre

by admin | | 1.Landing Page, 3.Development, News

Towards an Inclussive Theatre

AAD+ Labs., Bouche Theatre Collective & Presentation House Theatre

CREATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CREATORS

Developing new ways of making theatre from process to production

Conceived of by Jack Paterson & Hannah Siden

This project aims to create new pathways of access, opportunity, and equal and full participation for disability-identifying artists in the independent performing arts.

Born from our work with independent theatre artists facing Accessibility barriers due to disability (or any other barrier) to participate fully and equally in the small theatre and micro theatre creations space common to most independent artists.

Our ambition is to create an affordable and accessibility path necessary for artists unable to participate equally in the live creation in the rehearsal hall and provide the tools necessary for these artists outside Presentation House Theatre in the independent performing arts.

Meet the Team
Concept by Jack Paterson & Hannah Siden | Creative Technicians: Kaeden Atkinson-Hill & Jason Niron | Consulting Artists: Joel Grinke & Paul D Powers | Stage Manager: Andy Sandberg

Presentation House Theatre
333 Chesterfield Avenue,
North Vancouver, BC V7M 3G9

Remote Access on the Road:
The Ballad of Georges Boivin (Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival 2024)

Gallery

On Active Access & Cross Sensory Translation

“Accessibility as a springboard towards new forms of communication. Accessibility not simply as a practice for otherwise excluded audiences, but as added value. Accessibility as a creative challenge and experimentation with new languages.” – Redattore Sociale (Italy 2022)

Active Access Design was pioneered by Global Hive Labs., an international network of artists and companies, co-founded by Jack Paterson and Denise Yvette Serna, working together in devised creation. With collective members across multiple countries, we identified access as a priority.

With projects in Canada, Italy, UK and USA, Active Access Design has been applied to cross cultural, multi ligual, Disability MAD & Deaf Arts, and Ageing in the Arts projects.

“…smashing nationality and accesibility borders in a Total theatre that merges so many artistic languages in a full emotional voyage…” – IMA Magazine

PALAZZO DEL MONDO, Farnese Palace (Italy 2022). Conceived of by Isolte Avila, Carolina Migli & Jack Paterson | Devised with the International Ensemble

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

International Translation Exchange (Brazil)

by admin | | 1.Landing Page, 3.Development, News, Rhiannon Collett

International Translation Exchange

Bouche Theatre Collective & Núcleo Experimental present
A New Translation Workshop Reading

O JOGO DO BEIJO

An urban fantasy of love, betrayal, friendship and queer identity.

By Rhiannon Collett
Translated to Portuguese by Izabel Hart
Translated from The Kissing Game

Directed by Daniela Stirbulov | Featuring Carolina Amaral, Giovana Brandao, & Velson D’Souza | Cultural Conector: Jordan Arsenault | Creative Producers: Jack Paterson & Zé Henrique de Paula

Join us for a Q&A with the translator, director, and Canadian dramaturg Jordan Arseneault

Saturday August 10, 2024 | 8 PM
Teatro do Núcleo Experimental
Rua Barra Funda 637, São Paulo, Brazil

16-year-old Sam’s life is a mess; their parents are fighting, her brother’s a jerk, and they’re way too punk for high-school. When Kate moves into town with her old sister Frankie, Sam is immediately smitten. But when Kate’s sister falls victim to an act of violence, Sam becomes embroiled in something far out of their control.

Image: Rhiannon Collett in The Kissing Game (Youtheatre, 2019)

Gallery

MEET THE ARTISTS

Rhiannon Collett | Playwright (Canada)

Rhiannon Collett (they / them) is an award-winning playwright, performer, director and translator based in Vancouver. They are interested in interdisciplinary creation processes, sexual labour, gender performativity and science fiction. Selected playwriting credits include Miranda & Dave Begin Again (2016 Playwrights Guild of Canada RBC Emerging Playwright Award); Wasp (Nightswimming); The Kissing Game (Youtheatre/META for Outstanding New Text); Tragic Queens (CABAL Theatre/Wildside Festival); Girlfriend (Young People’s Theatre). Rhiannon’s work has been presented internationally at the LungA festival in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, and at the Festival les Petites Formes in Fort-de-France, Martinique.

Izabel Hart | Translator (Brazil)

Izabel Hart is a graduate of Cênicas pela Escola Superior de Artes Célia Helena (2010) and received their MA in Theatrical Direction from the University of Essex and East 15 Acting School, London (2013) including an exchange with GITIS University of the Performing Arts of Arts (Moscow, Russia). In 2011, they began directing their own work with “Vazio” for the Virada Cultural de São Paulo. From 2009 to 2015 they served as assistant director for Companhia Teatral Arnesto nos Convidou (São Paulo, BR), and directors Samir Yazbek and Helio Cicero including: Post Scriptum, Frank – 1, O Fingidor, Fogo Fátuo and As Folhas do Cedro. In 2018, they directed Shakespeare de Bolso: Macbeth e Qualquer Coisa ou Noite de Reis (Pocket Shakespeare: Macbeth & Twelfth Night) translated, adapted and created with Thiane Lavrador), which premiered at Teatro UMC and toured Unibes Cultural, Pinacoteca do Estado, and São Paulo cultural spaces such as community centres, librairies, and independent cultural venues. In 2020, they directed digital interactive performance Fragilidade, teu Nome é Mulher (Frailty, thy name is woman) interweaving women’s social isolation situations with Shakespeare plots (devised and created with Thiane Lavrador). Fragilidade, teu Nome é Mulher was a recipient of the 2021 Prêmio WeDo! de Teatro Online award.

Jordan Arseneault | Cultural Dramaturg (Brazil)

Jordan Arseneault (b. New Brunswick, 1980) is a critic, drag performer, social artist, meeting facilitator and translator. His staged work and participative workshops address issues of criminalization, stigma, mental health, HIV/AIDS, addiction, biculturalism, queerness and community. Former editor of Quebec’s only English language monthly for the LGBT community, 2Bmag (2010-2013), his reviews and articles have been published in Maisonneuve, Nightlife.ca, Forget the Box. He currently lives in Montreal.

About Núcleo Experimental

Since 2005, Núcleo Experimental has been dedicated to exploring new authors and reimagining the classics. Focusing on the quest for artistic excellence, the formation and improvement of its actors and the choice of texts that resonates with contemporary society, one of its aspects is also to explore the relationship between music and theater. We endeavor for the whole of our activities to be a platform for all the best culture can offer to the people of our city: Entertainment combined with intelligent thought, debate of ideas and pleasure. An aesthetic experience combined with a social responsibility. www.nucleoexperimental.com.br

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

International Translation Exchange (Brazil)

by admin | | 1.Landing Page, 3.Development, Eric Noel, Jordan Arseneault, News

International Translation Exchange

Bouche Theatre Collective & Núcleo Experimental present
A New Translation Workshop Reading

O LEITO DO RIO

(título provisório)

By Eric Noel
Translated to Portuguese by Zé Henrique de Paula
Translated from Faire des enfants

Directed by Zé Henrique de Paula | Featuring Mafe Alcantara, Roberto Borges, Victor Edwards, Cleomacio Inacio, Marco Antonio Pamio, Fabio Redkowicz, Lena Roque, & Fabiana Tolentino.

Join us for a Q&A with the playwright, translator and English language translator Jordan Arseneault*

Saturday August 03, 2024 | 8 PM
Teatro do Núcleo Experimental
Rua Barra Funda 637, São Paulo, Brazil

“Fair des enfants touches us right to the heart…Pure and sublime.”
– Luc Boulanger, Le Devoir

Philippe, 24, is self destructing, burning for the dark lights of drugs, sex, alcohol, prostitution. One Sunday, he and his mother wake up at the same time. He senses she’s trying to warn him; she senses something terrible has happened. A visceral and poetic text combining naturalism, surrealism in a blend of lush and gritty language, Fair des enfants won the le Prix Gratien-Gélinas (2010)and receiving critical acclaim for its uncanny depiction of grief and strong dialogue.

*The English (Canada) translation of Faire des enfants was commissioned and developed by Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal and The Cole Foundation Mentorship for Emerging Translators, with dramaturgy by Maureen Labonté.

Gallery

MEET THE ARTISTS

Eric Noel | Playwright (Canada)

Eric Noel (they, them) is a Quebecois playwright and graduate of NTS French language writing program. They are the author of Faire des enfants (2009), Tirade pour Henri (2010), Ces regards amoureux de garçons altérés (2015) and L’Amoure Looks Something Like You (2020). They are also the author of a libretto for an opera by Vincent-Olivier Gagnon, Sans électricité, les oiseaux disparaissent (2009), and the children’s theatre piece La Mère, le Père, le Petit et le Grand (2012). They also adapted Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince for Theatre La Roulotte Asteroid B612 (2018).

Zé Henrique de Paula | Translator (Brazil)

The Artistic Director of Teatro do Núcleo Experimental, Zé Henrique de Paula has a Master’s degree in Theatre Direction from The University of Essex, London, UK; a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urbanism from Mackenzie University and post-graduate degree in Performing Arts from the School of Communication and Arts of University of Sao Paulo. He studied Costume Design for Theatre and Screen at Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts – London (UK).

A multi award winning and nominated director, Zé Henrique de Paula’s credits include: The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, Naked Boys Singing, Spring Awakening, Side Man, Thrill me – the story of Leopold and Loeb, Natasha, Pierre and the great comet of 1812, Dogville, A view from the bridge, Assoiffés and Brazilian plays: Verdades e fotografias, Judas em Sábado de Aleluia, É 20! As Folias do Século, Revelação, O Endireita, Novelo, Fogo Azul de um Minuto, Antes de Mais Nada, Carrossel, o musical and Chaves – um tributo musical.

Jordan Arseneault | English Language Translator (Canada)

Jordan Arseneault (b. New Brunswick, 1980) is a critic, drag performer, social artist, meeting facilitator and translator. His staged work and participative workshops address issues of criminalization, stigma, mental health, HIV/AIDS, addiction, biculturalism, queerness and community. Former editor of Quebec’s only English language monthly for the LGBT community, 2Bmag (2010-2013), his reviews and articles have been published in Maisonneuve, Nightlife.ca, Forget the Box. He currently lives in Montreal.

About Núcleo Experimental

Since 2005, Núcleo Experimental has been dedicated to exploring new authors and reimagining the classics. Focusing on the quest for artistic excellence, the formation and improvement of its actors and the choice of texts that resonates with contemporary society, one of its aspects is also to explore the relationship between music and theater. We endeavor for the whole of our activities to be a platform for all the best culture can offer to the people of our city: Entertainment combined with intelligent thought, debate of ideas and pleasure. An aesthetic experience combined with a social responsibility. www.nucleoexperimental.com.br

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

New Translation Development (Inter-Provincial, CAN)

by admin | | 3.Development, News

ColoniséEs by Annick Lefebvre , Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui (2021) Photo Valérie Remise

NEW TRANSLATION CANADA | NOUVELLE TRADUCTION CANADA

THE PRIX SIMINOVITCH PRIZE PLAYWRIGHT TRANSLATION PROJECT

Join our digital new translation workshop series and play a part in the new translation process.

QCOLONISÉES

By Annick Lefebvre | Translated to English by Johanna Nutter
Translated from ColoniséEs
Featuring Réjean Cournoyer, Jessica Heafey & Alexandra Laferrière
Translation Dramaturgy by Bobby Theodore

“One of Quebec’s most fierce pens, we feel the full force of Annick Lefebvre’s writting in ColoniséEs”
– Gravel le matin, ICI Radio-Canada

A revolution (quiet), a month (historic) and promises (betrayed). ColoniséEs reflects the embodiment of our concerns of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Present-day Quebec; troubled, anxious, resilient.

Four years after the success of J’accuse, author Annick Lefebvre is back with her inimitable and uncompromising style. Her theatre takes up the challenge of being as intimate as it is collective, as denouncing as it is redeeming. Recipient of the Michel-Tremblay Prize, 2019 and the BMO Dramatic Writer’s Prize. Shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award 2019.

ColoniséEs premiered January 22 2019 at the Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui (Montreal), directed by René Richard Cyr. The play was developed with the support of the Centre des Auteurs Dramatiques (CEAD) and the Canada Council for the Arts.

A Free Digital Workshop Reading

DATE
Monday July 29, 2024

TIME
PT: Noon | MT: 1 PM | CT: 2PM | ET: 3PM | AT: 4PM

RUNNING TIME
2 HRS including Q&A with the playwright and translator

HOW TO ATTEND
This is a FREE digital event.
To register click the button below.

Gallery

ColoniséEs by Annick Lefebvre , Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui (2019) | Photo: Valérie Remise

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

Our Success is Measured in the Success of the Artists We Work With

STILL LIFE

Oct. 28 – Nov. 9, 2024

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM

Meet our Playwrights & Translator

About the playwrights

Marie-Ève Milot

(Elle)

Marie-Claude St-Laurent

(Elle)

About the translator

Rhiannon Collett

(They, Them, Theirs)

News & Development

THE BALLAD OF GEORGES BOIVIN

Gallery

Director/ Translator Notes

2021 | English Language Premiere

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

CREATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CREATORS

Gallery

On Active Access & Cross Sensory Translation

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

O JOGO DO BEIJO

Gallery

MEET THE ARTISTS

About Núcleo Experimental

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

O LEITO DO RIO

Gallery

MEET THE ARTISTS

About Núcleo Experimental

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

NEW TRANSLATION CANADA | NOUVELLE TRADUCTION CANADA

THE PRIX SIMINOVITCH PRIZE PLAYWRIGHT TRANSLATION PROJECT

QCOLONISÉES

Gallery

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

Contact