An off-the-road experience for young adventurers
ERSATZ, adj. (of a product) Made or used as a substitute for a product that has become rare.
Ersatz is a brand new multidisciplinary platform born in pandemic times. So it’s not theatre, but theatre is still the portal through which you can access a ton of off-road discoveries. Creative projects, videos, multiple resources and learning tools—that’s just a taste of what’s on offer for you to explore anytime, in the classroom or even in your living room.
Pick a show and let’s get started!
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ages 6+
Petite Sorcière (Little Witch)
Invent landscapes and soundscapes; be as brave as you can be and sharpen your wits as you travel with the… Invent landscapes and soundscapes; be as brave… Invent landscapes and soundscapes; be as brave as you can be and sharpen your wits as you travel with the witch from story to reality.
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ages 13+
Lévriers
Follow director Sophie Gee’s lead by doing some research into jealousy, and put your heart and your ideas into investigating failure and… Follow director Sophie Gee’s lead by doing some… Follow director Sophie Gee’s lead by doing some research into jealousy, and put your heart and your ideas into investigating failure and success.
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ages 4+
Histoires d’ailes et d’échelles
Play with shapes and textures like the artist Paul Klee. Dive in to his fascinating world and create your own works! Play with shapes and textures like the artist Paul Klee.… Play with shapes and textures like the artist Paul Klee. Dive in to his fascinating world and create your own works!
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ages 4+
26 lettres à danser
An alphabet that can dance? Words that can transform? Secret codes? The dazzling choreographer Hélène Langevin awaits you to move… An alphabet that can dance? Words that can transform? Secret… An alphabet that can dance? Words that can transform? Secret codes? The dazzling choreographer Hélène Langevin awaits you to move to the beat of the words!
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ages 8+
Traversée
Meet Imane, a 29-year-old Deaf actress, follow an artist’s instructions to make an animated video, and learn more about the situation of… Meet Imane, a 29-year-old Deaf actress, follow an artist’s… Meet Imane, a 29-year-old Deaf actress, follow an artist’s instructions to make an animated video, and learn more about the situation of migrant children around the world.
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ages 6+
Le problème avec le rose
Follow the advice of a pro to make a moodboard, discover some surprising facts about the colour pink, and tackle the issue of gender identity.… Follow the advice of a pro to make a moodboard, discover… Follow the advice of a pro to make a moodboard, discover some surprising facts about the colour pink, and tackle the issue of gender identity.
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ages 7+
Les mots secrets
Become a poet by experimenting with words, start a correspondence with a loved one, and make paper airplanes to carry your dreams aloft. Become a poet by experimenting with words, start a correspondence… Become a poet by experimenting with words, start a correspondence with a loved one, and make paper airplanes to carry your dreams aloft.
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ages 3+
Sous la feuille
It’s time to play at being great explorers to discover the natural wonders all around you, make your first herbarium, or go on a scenic… It’s time to play at being great explorers to discover… It’s time to play at being great explorers to discover the natural wonders all around you, make your first herbarium, or go on a scenic camping trip in your living room.
What is Ersatz?
An interview with Mélanie Dumont, Associate Artistic Director of NAC French Theatre. She talks about Ersatz, the new initiative for curious audiences of all ages.
Where did the idea for this platform come from?
The pandemic brought live shows to a grinding halt. From one day to the next, we could no longer welcome audiences to our theatres; the connection between theatre and children was brutally severed, and we didn’t know how long the disruption would last. But since theatre is our domain, the place where we think and from which we want to initiate sharing, we spontaneously started to create all sorts of vignettes around shows that had been cancelled. These vignettes were sent out in the spring in the form of newsletters, but the project was subsequently expanded, and it continued to develop, inspired by shows presented by French Theatre over the years that left their mark on our imaginations, such as Le problème avec le rose and Traversée. We wanted to make this content freely available in one place and at all times, hence the web platform.
Basically, since live performances can’t happen, at least for the time being, we wanted to continue to make theatre a vibrant hub from which to explore the world, life, the human experience.
If you had to describe Ersatz in terms of:
A colour: Too many come to mind, I can’t choose.
A smell: Sweet and salty popcorn.
A sound: A brass band playing a repertoire that includes pop, hip-pop, maybe a little punk, or a giant hall with lots of sizzling circuits; in any case, it’s joyful, it’s colourful, it crackles.
A food: Right off the top of my head, I think of a tuber, like ginger root.
A texture: Embossed paper.
What are your hopes for the platform’s visitors/users?
I wish them a free and joyful experience. I sincerely hope that it will be rich in discoveries and experiments, and that their visit will spark their desire to create and learn. I’d like to take this opportunity to say that school workshops will also be offered in connection with Ersatz.