On September 25 the Francophones of Ontario will be celebrating three anniversaries at once! This festive day marks the 40^th anniversary of the first raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag, the fifth annual Franco-Ontarian Day and the 400^th anniversary of the French presence in Ontario. The NAC’s Théâtre français will be marking the occasion with a festive and mordant happening celebrating Franco-Ontarian voices of past and present. This literary and musical jam session, staged by Lisa L’Heureux and Gabriel Robichaud under the artistic direction of Brigitte Haentjens, will feature artists like Pandaléon, Andréa Lindsay, Mehdi Hamdad, Nicolas Desfossés and Anie Richer. Join in the festivities on September 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. in the NAC Studio.

 

Taking its theme from the title of the poem “À quoi ça sert / d’être / brillant / si / t’éclaires / personne” by Patrice Desbiens, the event will combine the words of the renowned Triple D (Dalpé, Desbiens, Dickson) with those of Michel Ouellette, Éric Charlebois, Sonia Lamontagne, Charlotte L’Orage and many others. It will be a veritable hymn in praise of the territory and its language, featuring texts such as Cris et blues, Sainte colère, Poèmes anglais, Chien and Miroir sans teint. The organizers of this happening were inspired by the works of some sixty artists. 

 

The guiding principle behind this show is the territory. It is the connecting element that links the writing and the music, creating echoes between the past and the present, to what is happening now. It’s going to be fantastic to see that landscape appear onstage. Most of the artists are just starting their careers, and it’s interesting to see how they express their ideas, how they confront and absorb everything that has preceded them.

- Gabriel Robichaud, co-director

 

Conceived and directed by: Lisa L’Heureux and Gabriel Robichaud // artistic director: Brigitte Haentjens // with Nicolas Desfossés, Céleste Dubé, Mehdi Hamdad, Andrea Lindsay, Charlotte L’Orage, Pandaléon, Stef Paquette, Pierre Simpson, Anie Richer and Gabriel Robichaud // artistic consultants and coordinators: Xavier Forget and Guy Warin // Lighting designer and stage manager: Guillaume Houët // technical director: Élise Lefebvre

Produced by the NAC Théâtre français // In association with NAC Presents

Related Activities

 

Territoires Exhibit

by Mariana Lafrance

From September 14 to 27, the Théâtre français will present the exhibit Territoires by Mariana Lafrance in the lobby of the NAC Studio. The exhibit is part of the biennial Zones Théâtrales, the À quoi ça sert d’être brillant si t’éclaires personne event and the NAC Culture Days.

 

Franco-Ontarian Flag Raising

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on September 25, the NAC will replace the flag on the flagpole located in the Elgin St. entrance with the Franco-Ontarian flag to mark the 40^th anniversary of the first occasion this flag was raised. Local artists and representatives of Franco-Ontarian associations will be in attendance.