The Laboratoires du Théâtre français is an annual event, an opportunity for ongoing training for artists from across Canada. Established by artistic director Denis Marleau, these master classes invite artists of international stature to come share their professional knowledge and skills and to work, question and explore various approaches with other theatre professionals. These workshops allow participants to pause and reflect on their own artistic approach, to discuss theatre and acting with their peers and to come to terms with a radical and original proposition.

The first edition in 2002 was directed by André Markowicz who, together with Denis Marleau, explored with the actors Russian texts translated into French. Acting was again at the core of the workshop the following year when the French-American director Stuart Seide worked on bringing the plays of Seneca to life. The next year was an opportunity for playwrights to explore the “geometry of the story” in a workshop directed by the writer and director Wajdi Mouawad, whose point of departure was the question of time in fiction and in playwrighting. In 2004 the word made flesh was the focus for participants in a lab directed by writer Daniel Danis and director Alain Françon. In 2005 the playwright Normand Chaurette replaced José Pliya at the last minute with a workshop on the foundations of writing. The next year Brigitte Haentjens explored the concept of the “vertical actor” and the basics of performing tragedy. The work of the actor was also analyzed, but from a very different perspective, in the workshop by the Bulgarian director Galin Stoev, who emphasized character and situation. In 2009 Wajdi Mouawad decided to continue with these laboratories, and invited writer Suzanne Lebeau to direct a master class where the participants explored the challenges of writing plays for children. In 2010 Robert Lévesque looked at theatre criticism as commitment and resistance, and last year Claude Poissant focused on the challenges and difficulties of creating new works.

This year, as one of his final gestures as artistic director of the NAC French Theatre, Wadji Mouawad will be conducting a workshop with the accent on acting.

THE ACTOR-PLAYWRIGHT

The exploratory work of the laboratory will involve erasing the boundaries separating the actor from the writer, i.e. the script. One writes, the other interprets the writing. It is a boundary that leaves each in a separate world, and thus often gives rise to conventions and polite small talk whereby the actor promises to respect the playwright, who in turn promises to meddle as little as possible in the actor’s performance. While that may appear to be a sharing of roles, it is important to remember that sharing is a gesture that separates as much as it binds, for sharing can create rifts which in turn can lead to mishaps and false steps. How do we overcome that boundary while combining the skills of both in order to achieve the artistic goal?

By breaking the “actor as mouthpiece” rule the actor becomes an actor-playwright, with the actor in the writing of the script and as bearer of the source of the writing. This means the actor is in the delinquency of the text, i.e. venturing beyond obedience to the thinking of the writer, thereby making of his or her own thinking and own existence the place where the writing finds support, and not the inverse. An actor thus does not lean on the beauty of the text, but instead pierces that beauty, tearing it to shreds in order to reconstruct it word by word, depending on the combinations chosen by the playwright, but rediscovered, brick by brick, by the actor.

The question is how to approach the text – from its initial form on the page to the etymological meaning of each word in the script – so as to transform it into a structure of sensations, visions and emotions that the actor works with throughout the performance. How does one slowly dissect the moments and punctuations of the script? How to bring out the multiple meanings of words, like grinding a grain of pepper so as to release its perfumes and flavour? How to approach a script not to take ownership of the text but to take ownership of oneself, making the script one’s own in a gesture that distills the very relationship binding the playwright to the writing? This workshop is addressed mainly to actors.

WAJDI MOUAWAD

Born in 1968, the writer, director and actor Wajdi Mouawad spent his childhood in Lebanon, his adolescence in France and his young adult years in Quebec where he completed his studies, graduating in 1991 with an acting diploma from the National Theatre School of Canada. He promptly co-founded with the actress Isabelle Leblanc his first company, Théâtre Ô Parleur. In 2005 he created the companies Abé Carré Cé Carré with Emmanuel Schwartz in Quebec, and Au Carré de l’Hypoténuse in France. At the same time he was also appointed artistic director in 2000 of the Théâtre de Quat’Sous in Montreal, a position he held for four seasons. With his French company he worked with Espace Malraux (scène nationale de Chambéry et de la Savoie) from 2008 to 2010, and in 2009 was an associate artist for the 63rd edition of the Avignon Festival, where he presented the tetralogy Le Sang des Promesses. He has been the artistic director of the Théâtre français since September 2007.

REGISTRATION

The 11th edition of the Laboratoires du Théâtre français is a sought-after workshop for actors. To register, please submit the following information and documents:

1. Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

2. Résumé and head shot.

3. A letter to the workshop director describing why you wish to participate in the workshop.

Those who live outside the Ottawa-Gatineau region must also include an application for financial assistance, addressed to the administrative director of the Théâtre français, stating the means of transportation for the trip to Ottawa, the cost of a return trip, and their housing or accommodation plans.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Monday, April 2, 2012

COST: $350 (includes the noon meal)

MAIL APPLICATION TO:
Marie Claude Dicaire
Théâtre français, Centre national des Arts
53 Elgin St., P.O. 1534, Station B, Ottawa ON   K1P 5W1

Or send by e-mail to:
marieclaude.dicaire@cna-nac.ca

SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS: The selection of participants is made by the workshop director. The names of candidates selected will be announced on April 17, 2012. Notice of any financial aid granted will also be included in the official response.

CONFIRMATION OF PARTICIPATION: If you are selected, you must confirm your participation and forward payment of the workshop fee by Monday, April 30, 2012 at the latest.

INFORMATION: Marie Claude Dicaire
613-947-7000, ext. 523 or 1-866-850-2787, ext. 523
marieclaude.dicaire@cna-nac.ca

LOCATION AND TIMETABLE

Schedule
The 2012 edition of the Laboratoires du Théâtre français will take place from June 12 to 20, 2012 inclusive, with a day off on Saturday, June 16. Sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. (Homework will be assigned and is to be done outside workshop hours). The noon meal will be eaten together on-site. Participants must attend all sessions without fail.

Location
The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (GCTC)
1233 Wellington St. West (corner of Holland Ave.)
Ottawa ON

Getting there: To get to the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre from Highway 417 (Queensway), take exit 122 to Parkdale Ave. Turn right on Parkdale and take the second street on the left (Wellington West). The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre will be on your right. For public transportation from downtown Ottawa, OC Transpo buses 2 and 16 will take you directly to the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre.

FINANCIAL AID

Participants who live outside the immediate Ottawa-Gatineau region may receive financial aid from the Théâtre français, subject to available funding. There are two forms of financial aid available: travel allowance and lodging allowance.

Terms and conditions:

Travel Allowance: The travel allowance is based on presentation of receipts for transportation expenses for travel from the participant’s residence to the city of Ottawa.

1. Participants who live at a distance of 100 to 299 km from Ottawa: reimbursement of up to 75% of transportation costs, depending on the funding that is available.

2. Participants who live more than 300 km from Ottawa: reimbursement of up to 90% of transportation costs, depending on the funding that is available.

Lodging Allowance: The lodging allowance is based on presentation of relevant documents regarding the accommodation selected by the participant, and on submission of appropriate receipts and vouchers.

1. For participants obliged to stay in Ottawa for the duration of the workshop: payment of up to $500, depending on available funding.