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Black Theatre Workshop named inaugural Co-Curating Company for NAC English Theatre
December 9, 2020On Wednesday, December 9, National Arts Centre English Theatre, in partnership with Black Theatre Workshop, announced an unprecedented shared curation model for the national stage. Beginning in the 2021–22 season, NAC English Theatre has committed to the annual appointment of a Co-Curating…
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A theatre project about the French language
December 7, 2020In 2019, Zones Théâtrales presented Oh! Canada : un forum sur la langue, a project led by Nicolas Gendron and Danielle Le Saux-Farmer. This workshop launched a vast research project on the state of the French language. From November 23 to 27, Zones Théâtrales welcomed Danielle and Nicolas…
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La Queens: Podcast mini-series
December 2, 2020In the depths of winter, the owner of La Queens breathes her last, leaving her remote northern Ontario motel to her two daughters. Marie-Thérèse Fortin and Dominique Quesnel play the central pair in this story with echoes of identity, written by Jean Marc Dalpé. Episode 1 Episode…
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A Grand Success for Canadian Theatre Companies Across Canada
December 1, 2020This past summer NAC English Theatre created Grand Acts of Theatre to re-ignite creativity, bring hope, and lift the spirits of theatre artists and performing arts lovers from across the country. Co-curated by English Theatre Artistic Director Jillian Keiley and Sherry Yoon, Artistic…
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C’est la faute de Jean Marc Dalpé
November 23, 2020It’s Jean Marc Dalpé’s Fault It’s his fault that I took the biggest risk of my life. There were 15 of us gathered in a room under harsh fluorescent lights; everyone was tense, especially me. It smelled like burnt coffee and dirty carpeting. This interview, for an academic position, was…
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Partir ou rester
November 20, 2020To leave or to stay. The dilemma runs through much of Franco-Ontarian dramaturgy, including some of its most iconic texts: André Paiement’s Lavalléville (premiered in 1974), Jean Marc Dalpé’s Le chien (premiered in 1988), Michel Ouellette’s French Town (premiered in 1993), and, more…
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A conversation with Brigitte Haentjens about Pour en finir avec Octobre?
November 16, 2020October 2020. On the stage of Le Diamant in Quebec City, it’s a rare day of activity in this fall of cultural scarcity. For the past week, the set has felt like a radio studio, with 20-odd microphones set up to capture the epilogue of Pour en finir avec Octobre?, an eight-episode podcast…
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Dear you,
October 23, 2020Dear You, I’ve been thinking about the last time we saw each other at the theatre. When was that, do you remember? Do you remember the show you came to see that day? Perhaps you’ve carefully preserved an image or sound from that experience in your memory. Close your eyes and…
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The Transformations Project
October 20, 2020“What would it take to transform our society for the betterment of all?”* This is a national project in which live performance companies from across Canada asked some of their favourite artists to approach the above question in whatever way they see fit. Visit the works now! The way it…
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The Shortlist for the 20th Anniversary Siminovitch Prize
October 15, 2020The Siminovitch Prize Foundation and the National Arts Centre have announced the shortlist for this year’s Siminovitch Prize, the most prestigious theatre award in Canada. The jury has selected five outstanding playwrights as finalists for the esteemed theatre prize, now celebrating its…
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Ersatz
August 28, 2020ERSATZ, adj. (Of a product) Made or used as a substitute for a product that has become rare. An interview with Mélanie Dumont about a mysterious theatrical product to be launched in mid-October. What is Ersatz? Concretely, it’s a web platform, an all-terrain, multidisciplinary…
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Chansons pour le musée
August 28, 2020In 2015, the amazing Karine Sauvé managed to dazzle us and make us laugh (!) with Les Grands-mères mortes. She was also seen in concert mode during the latest edition of the BIG BANG festival. She is now working on a sonic creation in which the ears will be directly connected to the heart.…
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Canada’s Digital Stage
August 24, 2020#CanadaPerforms was initially launched on March 19 by the National Arts Centre and its founding partner, Facebook Canada. The short-term relief fund helped ease the financial strain for 700 professional Canadian artists and published authors impacted by the closure of performance venues and…
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Meet the Next Artistic Director of NAC French Theatre: Mani Soleymanlou
August 18, 2020Theatre director, playwright and actor Mani Soleymanlou will be the next Artistic Director of NAC French Theatre, effective September 1, 2021. Mani will take over from Brigitte Haentjens at the conclusion of her nine-year term. NAC audiences will have already seen some of…
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NAC Superfan: Anne Hamels
July 17, 2020University of Ottawa theatre student Anne Hamels is a long-time NAC regular. Five years ago, when Anne was 13 years-old, she met artist Marie-Ève Fortier, who visited Anne’s classroom to present De plain-pied, a French Theatre project. “She was the one who got me interested in the project,…