Classique(s)

Theatrical brainstorm

2025-04-24 19:30 2025-04-26 23:00 60 Canada/Eastern 🎟 NAC: Classique(s)

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/35959

In-person event

What is a classic? Why do some plays grace stages to this day, while others sleep beneath the thick blanket of Time? This piece is a joyous exchange of ideas, both eloquent and irreverent—brazen, some would say—about the works that make up what we now call the “canon.” Observe the unchanging Yesterday to understand the troubling Now.   For a few brief moments, Mani Soleymanlou drops autobiographical fiction and questions of identity to study his preferred form...

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Babs Asper Theatre,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
April 24 - 26, 2025
April 24 - 26, 2025

April 2025

  1. Apr 24 2025
    Thursday

    7:30pm - Opening night

  2. Apr 25 2025
    Friday

    7:30pm - Talkback

  3. Apr 26 2025
    Saturday

    3:00pm

Close schedule
Profile illustration of a figure reminiscent of Shakespeare, holding a skeleton skull in one hand and a cell phone in the other.
© Gérard DuBois
“Understanding our collective past ”
  • In-person event
  • Français
  • ≈ 2 hours · No intermission
NAC Co-production

What is a classic? Why do some plays grace stages to this day, while others sleep beneath the thick blanket of Time? This piece is a joyous exchange of ideas, both eloquent and irreverent—brazen, some would say—about the works that make up what we now call the “canon.” Observe the unchanging Yesterday to understand the troubling Now.  

For a few brief moments, Mani Soleymanlou drops autobiographical fiction and questions of identity to study his preferred form of expression, theatre. He has asked the formidable thinker and playwright Fanny Britt, as well as a brilliant team of performers, musicians and designers, to shamelessly toy with this ostentatious subject matter. What is a classic? Is there a set formula for creating one? Is Tit-Coq a classic? What if the Honourable Steven Guilbeault was the Canadian Hamlet? 

The approach may be light-hearted, but the stakes are high. This play shows a real desire to give people today the luxury of stepping back and taking an earnest look at themselves. On stage, Phèdre, Andromaque and other ghosts of theatres past are invited to comment on the chaotic social, political, economic and artistic game that is being played right now in our world in disarray. 

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Apr 21
Apr 22
Apr 23
Apr 24
  • 7:30 pm Opening night
Apr 25
  • 7:30 pm Talkback
Apr 26
  • 3:00 pm
Apr 27

Artists

  • Playwright and Director Mani Soleymanlou
  • Playwright Fanny Britt
  • Playwrights Fanny Britt et Mani Soleymanlou
  • Director Mani Soleymanlou
  • With Louise Cardinal, Martin Drainville, Kathleen Fortin, Julie Le Breton, Jean-Moïse Martin, Benoit McGinnis, Madeleine Sarr, Mani Soleymanlou, and musicians
  • Assistance à la mise en scène Jean Gaudreau
  • Scenic Designer Martin Labrecque and Mani Soleymanlou
  • Lighting Martin Labrecque
  • Music Philippe Brault
  • Costumes Cynthia St-Gelais
  • Makeup Amélie Bruneau-Longpré
  • Technical Director Jenny Huot
  • Production and Tour Manager Charlotte Ménard
  • Line Producer Xavier Inchauspé
  • Executive Producers Vanessa Beaupré et Marie-Laurence Rock
  • Production Orange Noyée
  • Co-production Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and NAC French Theatre
  • Co-presentation Le Diamant