The National Arts Centre’s Théâtre français is looking for 15 citizens interested in taking part in a unique and collaborative artistic experience, performing in Ça ira (1) Fin de Louis by Joël Pommerat, to be presented at the NAC from March 16 to 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Wanted: 15 citizens from the national capital region
From March 16 to 19 the Théâtre français will be presenting – in a Canadian exclusive – Ça ira (1) Fin de Louis, the new theatre piece by the French writer and director Joël Pommerat, an outstanding figure in contemporary theatre. (Two of his previous plays, Cendrillon and La réunification des deux Corées, have also been presented at the NAC.)
The Théâtre français is reaching out to the Greater Ottawa-Gatineau community to recruit 15 adults (10 men and 5 women) to become an integral part of the show.
The participants will form the Forces vives group, whose role is to respond to speeches made by the actors in certain situations during the play. There are no lines to learn, but participants must memorize certain stage movements and react to what is happening.
The candidates selected must be available from Sunday, March 13 to Saturday, March 19 to take part in preparatory meetings, rehearsals and four performances. (The exact schedule will be announced after the closing date for candidate submissions.)
Eligibility Criteria
This experience is not open to performing arts professionals but to amateurs, people who are curious and who love theatre and would like to take part in a moment of discovery.
Application Process
Send a brief message of intent to the following address. Be sure to include your name, contact information, occupation and age and send to theatrefrancais@nac-cna.ca (to the attention of Guy Warin, assistant artistic director and project manager). Please also include a photo (head shot) if possible.
Closing date for submissions: February 10, 2016 at 5 p.m.
The Performance
Having long been taken for granted, over the past few years the notions of democracy, society and the state have resurfaced as topics of international debate. In that context Joël Pommerat questions the values and representations that prompt individuals to take action. With Ça ira (1) Fin de Louis he conducts a detailed probing of contemporary thought, dissecting the myth of the French Revolution and the birth of democracy. Eschewing both historical revisionism and the cult of the hero, he is interested in the vibrancy of debates about ideas, the dynamics that compel men and women to take action to defend their convictions, and the inherent energy and fatigue that come with taking and exercising power.
The show is 4½ hours long, including two short intermissions.
