The Duceppe theater has unveiled its programming for the 2023-2024 season. On the menu: five main pieces in the great hall, two short forms behind the scenes in formula 5 à 7… and encore productions which will not be revealed until later this year.
Next season, three texts of Anglo-Saxon origin will make their way to the boards of the main room at Duceppe. “It’s a bit of a return to our essence after our 50th season made up of 100% Quebec creations,” says co-artistic director David Laurin. The pieces chosen are a series of favourites. And all of them will provoke fiery discussions after the performances, because the topics discussed are far from consensual. »
Jean-Simon Traversy, the other half of this two-headed artistic direction, adds: “It’s a season where all the pieces are on full display. The distributions are impressive. There is an ambition for all the creative teams in each of the productions. Even if we do not yet know where they will land, all aim for a star. »
Despite this desire to offer the public spectacular productions, the duo has not denied one of its missions, which is to open the stage to new faces. Thus, the piece Chimerica, which addresses the complex relations between America and China, brings together twelve performers, six of whom are of Chinese origin and speak Mandarin.
At the end of the season, the play Royale, based on the novel by Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard, brings together 10 theater school graduates, chosen from among the 278 met by Jean-Simon Traversy to compose the cast!
The season opens, however, with Newsroom, Lee Hall’s adaptation of the Network film. Here, Denis Bernard embodies star presenter Howard Beale, a man fueled by rage and provocation. This piece was presented in Quebec in 2021 and arrives in Montreal a pandemic later. “This character haunted me a lot,” explains Denis Bernard. It had already marked me when I saw the film in the 1970s. This piece is a wonderful satire that raises questions about the right to speak that is granted to some. It resonates extremely relevant today. »
Doctore will follow, a moral thriller whose main score is carried by Pascale Montpetit. The text by Briton Robert Icke (translated by Fanny Britt and directed by Marie-Ève Milot) addresses themes that divide society such as ethics, racist prejudices or the place of religion.
Pascale Montpetit will also be in the cast of Me, in the red ruins of the century, signed Olivier Kemeid and presented throughout the month of March. This show, which made a lot of noise when it was created in 2012, recounts the extraordinary journey of Quebec comedian of Ukrainian origin Sasha Samar.
In addition to these five productions presented in the main room, the Duceppe theater will present behind the scenes the short plays Lau and The consented suspension of incredulity. Whitehorse, taken from the comic strip of the same name, will take up residence in the Fifth Stage.
Another great novelty of the coming season: the co-artistic directors have decided to open their stage to productions from other theaters in Montreal or Quebec. In most cases, these plays will have sold out in their original theater and their broadcast could not be extended due to lack of space in the calendar.
In November, it is therefore the documentary piece Run de lait, by Justin Laramée, which will be set up at Duceppe. “But four other plays will follow,” says David Laurin. We decided not to schedule anything in our large hall in December and June to be able to host shows from elsewhere and thus meet a need expressed by the community for a long time. »
The titles of these shows will be revealed as the season progresses.
Finally, it should be noted that Duceppe will offer a performance of the large fresco The Crossing of the Century in June, dedicated to the work of Michel Tremblay.
