March 31, 2016
What would life be like without theatre? Ottawa, 31 March 2016 – 2016-2017 marks the fifth season with Brigitte Haentjens as artistic director of the NAC’s Théâtre français. In keeping with her previous seasons she pursues theatre that engages with society, that takes risks, actively promoting women creators and the art of theatre, theatre that confounds,... Read more
January 28, 2016
Un vent se lève qui éparpille making its première at the NAC Théâtre français with English surtitles on Friday Feb. 12 February 10 – 13 at 8 p.m. in the NAC Studio The door slams behind him like a shot from a .22; A crow takes flight On the other side of the screen door, a woman forever frozen, her mouth open: a pillar of salt The man might come... Read more
January 13, 2016
Once upon a time lived another Snow Queen… One fine morning Kay decides to leave Gerda. He wants to go far away, over there where the snowflakes dance and the ice glistens, but that’s not what the courageous little girl hears. She decides to brave the cold and, at the risk of freezing, embarks on a long quest to find her friend. Sound familiar? The result of a collaboration between... Read more
December 8, 2015
An NAC French Theatre presentation Recommended for ages 5 to 99! No spoken words in the performance Surrounding the ring, an array of inward-facing fans. In the middle, a rather odd-looking puppeteer who is using the breeze from the fans to breathe life into some unconventional characters: dozens of multicoloured plastic bags. Caught on the rising drafts, the little bags perform an... Read more
November 27, 2015
LÀ OÙ J’HABITE Capturing the stars An NAC French Theatre presentation December 5 & 6 at 9:30 & 11 a.m. in the NAC Studio Recommended for ages 2 to 5 Note: Both performances will be in French. Téoù (“Where-Are-You”) and Téqui (“Who-Are-You”) are bursting with a hundred questions bigger than a thousand houses. Why... Read more
November 27, 2015
(Instructions to Any Future Socialist Government Wishing to Abolish Christmas) December 9 to 12 at 8 p.m. Additional performance: December 13 at 2 p.m. Performed in French “Michael Mackenzie does not condemn the model of high finance that is his subject. He addresses dehumanization, individualization, and the depository of individual and social values, but he never... Read more
November 23, 2015
November 23, 2015 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre (NAC) announced today that it will begin renovations of its 46 year-old building in December 2015, earlier than originally anticipated. The impacts of this shift are being felt across the entire organization, specifically resulting in the moving or cancellation of daytime performances, including student matinees.... Read more
November 12, 2015
There are five of them. They succeed one another, detest one other, love and betray each other, and share the same blood. They have risen from the mists of time, yet remain quite contemporary. They spend their lives waiting to be at the top, but once they reach the summit their downfall begins. Richard II, Henri IV, Henri V, Henri VI and Richard III are the component elements of... Read more
October 29, 2015
Born in a small farming community at the turn of the last century, Petit Pierre, a wee slip of a man with a funny smile, was deaf and partially blind. One day for Fleurette – his favourite cow – he built an unusual beet distributor. That was the first in a slew of inventions that Petit Pierre enjoyed building. With scrap materials gleaned from the roadside, he constructed the work of a... Read more
October 8, 2015
Today, September 12, a woman is at work. Today, September 12, she is interrupted by a phone call from school; her daughter has a stomach ache. Today, September 12, the woman gets into her car, parks in front of the school and gazes out at the school yard. She observes children at play, imagining all sorts of possible scenarios, from the hilarious to the terrifying. Written and performed by... Read more