Lights up on an anxious little girl and her dog on a wild and stormy night. Produced by Le Carrousel and recommended for ages 5 to 9, Nuit d’orage is a stage adaptation of the children’s book written and illustrated by Michelle Lemieux. Subtle, funny and perceptive, the play explores the age where awareness first starts to intrude on childhood innocence.

“One stormy night, a little girl huddles under her blankets under the watchful eye of her faithful dog. Her head is full of a thousand questions... they take off, fly away, double back, and bounce around in the recesses of her mind. There in the middle of the night, she ponders the meaning of life and other thorny issues, from the personal to the universal. The wind blows harder and harder, then thunder roars and lightning flashes: anyone would be scared! And what if...?”

Like an artist’s sketches, the young girl’s existential wonderings come alive on a darkened stage punctuated by flashes of lightning. Sensitive and perceptive, these thoughtful tableaux of light and shadow hold up a mirror to our vulnerability and amazement in the face of the mystery of life.

For some 35 years, Le Carrousel has been distinguishing itself on national and international stages for its insightful approach to childhood and art. A veritable creative research and development centre, the company pushes the limits of the permissible and the possible, explores the question “What should we tell the children?”, and investigates the place of children in today’s world.

The company’s unique approach is reflected both in the richness and rigour of Suzanne Lebeau’s writing and in the uncompromisingly contemporary vision Gervais Gaudreault brings to Le Carrousel’s productions. Longtime creative partners, Gaudreault and Lebeau have produced an impressive repertoire of original works that enlist all the evocative power of theatre, and are considered (both at home and abroad) important landmarks in the history of theatre for young audiences.

What the critics are saying
“Le Carrousel’s latest creation is a joy to behold. The direction, which revolves around stage projections of Michèle Lemieux’s illustrations, is skilful and clever, and sets up tableaux that are very beautiful and deeply poetic. It was no small challenge—and no small risk—to mount a stage version of this illustrated book, published in 1996 and adapted by the NFB in 2003 into a multi-award-winning animated film. Risky, because the original material is so highly visual that even the magic of theatre might not do it justice... I should mention the very beautiful set design, which features the artist’s black and white drawings projected onto an immense transparent canvas that also serves as a scrim, with images superimposed on the live actress performing behind the screen.”
Jean Siag, La Presse (transl.)

RENCONTRE DU SAMEDI
After the 1:30 p.m. performance on Saturday, December 4, the audience is invited to stay in the Studio for a talkback session with members of the cast and creative team, hosted by Benoît Vermeulen.

SPECIAL PRE-SHOW ACTIVITIES
We’re pleased to continue this season’s program of special pre-show audience activities. Join us 45 minutes before the performance and see what we have in store!

RESERVATIONS:
www.nac-cna.ca

TICKETMASTER:
613-755-1111

NAC BOX OFFICE:
53 Elgin Street, Ottawa
Monday–Saturday
10 a.m.–9 p.m.

TICKETS:
$13.96 (adults and children)

GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE:
Save 15% to 20% off regular ticket prices
613-947-7000, ext. 384
grp@nac-cna.ca

 - 30 -

Aude RAHMANI
Communications Officer - French Theatre
National Arts Centre
613-947-7000, ext. 396 / 1-866-850-2787, ext. 396
Cell : 613-979-2636
arahmani@nac-cna.ca
www.cna-nac.ca