It is crucial to allow yourself to hear the thoughts of others who share the same questions. To allow yourself to look into your relationship with theatre to drag a deep thought out of it, a precise and bright sensation, some poetry. Not liking theatre, but knowing why, without recrimination against it. In that sense, the Golden Fleece, here, obviously, is nothing else than yourself. You can say everything, express everything.
Wajdi Mouawad

After the success met last year by the Argonauts Club, a project of cultural mediation meant as an introduction to the multiple facets of the theatrical art for a group of ten neophytes, the NAC French Theatre is proud to announce that the adventure will once again take place for the 2011-2012 season. People who are longing to discover this art have until Friday, September 16^th 2011 to show their interest.

This enlightening voyage of (self-)awareness, where participants will attend (free of charge) four key plays in French Theatre’s 2011-2012 season, include informal meetings and conversations with professional theatre artists. Our objective (and our hope) is that through this unique and up-close experience, our 10 participants will acquire the keys to an artistic and cultural autonomy based not on academic credentials but on emotional responses and personal insights.

To be eligible to join the Argonauts Club, you must:

 -       Be at least 18 years old

-       Be a complete newcomer to theatre

-       Be able to attend ALL Club activities during the season (see schedule below)

-       Be fluent enough in French to express yourself freely

How to apply
If you are eligible (as per criteria above) and interested in participating in this theatrical adventure, please write to French Theatre telling us why you want to join the Argonauts Club and what appeals to you about the project. Please include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and birthdate. The letter must be sent by email to Guy Warin, Assistant to the Artistic Director, at guy.warin@nac-cna.ca by September 16^th 2011.

Please not that participants will not be remunerated, that travel expenses will not be reimbursed and that only successful applicants will be contacted.

Schedule
Olivier Choinière’s Chante avec moi, Thursday, September 29^th 2011
From 6pm to 7pm: Meeting before the show
7:30pm: Show followed by a discussion with the audience

Elfriede Jelinek’s Jackie, Thursday, November 24^th 2011
From 6pm to 7pm: Meeting before the show
7:30pm: Show followed by a discussion with the audience

Bertolt Brecht’s L’Opéra de quat’sous, Thursday, March 1^st 2012
From 6pm to 7pm: Meeting before the show
7:30pm: Show followed by a discussion with the audience

Lina Saneh and Rabih Mroué’s Photo-Romance, Thursday, April 5^th 2012
From 6pm to 7pm: Meeting before the show
8pm: Show followed by a discussion with the audience.

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Source:
Sylvain Lavoie
Communications Officer, French Theatre
National Arts Centre
613-947-7000, ext. 396
sylvain.lavoie@nac-cna.ca