- Written and directed by Kevin McCoy
Inspired by his experiences as an immigrant to Canada in the 1990s, Kevin McCoy’s theatrical triptych combines personal and historical narratives to explore themes of immigration, searching for one’s roots, and exchange between cultures and civilizations.
In 2006, Kevin created Ailleurs, a documentary theatre piece about immigrants in Quebec City, centered on their experiences and their hopes for the future. It was followed by Norge, a more personal work inspired by his grandmother’s immigration from Norway to the United States when she was 14 years old. The triptych concludes with Le Devisement du monde, Kevin’s newest work, which crafts a parallel between Kevin’s relationship with his father during the last five days of his life, and Marco Polo’s relationship with his father during their Silk Road expedition.
With rich storytelling supported by elegant projections, this triptych is an intergenerational and intercultural reflection on our origins, and what separates and connects us.
Company
Théâtre Humain was founded in 2006 by Kevin McCoy, the company’s artistic director and principal creator. The company seeks to explore what it means to be human – in all of its possibilities and manifestations. With the creation of new works, literary adaptations and new interpretations of existing plays, Théâtre Humain is dedicated to gathering together audiences from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles and to telling stories that serve as bridges between the myriad cultures of our world.
Creative team
- Written and directed by Kevin McCoy
- Performed by Kevin McCoy, Christian Michaud and Sarangerl Tserenpil
- Set and prop design Christian Fontaine
- Video design Jocelyn Langlois
- Lighting design Laurent Routhier
- Shadow play Amélie Bergeron
- Sound design François Leclerc
- Musical creation Frédéric Lebrasseur
- Assistant director Caroline Martin
- Artistic collaboration Nicolas Léger
- Dramaturgical counsel Robert Lepage and Chantal Poirier
National Creation Fund investment
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $105,000 enhanced the creation process for Le Devisement du monde by bringing together the creative team and cast for additional workshops. The investment also gave Kevin the opportunity to revisit the text for Ailleurs and adapt the scenic and technical design of the first two parts to create Le Triptyque migratoire, a fully-integrated trilogy designed for touring.
Credits
Ailleurs, Norge and Le Devisement du monde are creations by Théâtre Humain, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Entente de développement culturel - Ville de Québec.
Norge is a co-production with the Théâtre du Trident. This play was developed in artistic residencies at the Trident, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Théâtre l’Escaouette.
Théâtre Humain wishes to acknowledge the generous assistance it has received from Ex Machina, Ciné-Scène and many other organizations and people.
Le Devisement du monde and Le Projet triptyque migratoire are developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
Performance dates
Past performances
Le Devisement du monde: February 11 to 27, 2020 at Le Diamant (Quebec)
Le Triptyque migratoire: February 22, 2020 at Le Diamant (Quebec)
