The show Urban Tales, produced by the Théâtre Urbi et Orbi, was a great success in the 1990s and 2000s at La Licorne. Its designer, Yvan Bienvenue, returns to the formula this week, crossing Avenue Papineau, to present a new version of Urban Tales at La Tulipe.
In nearly 30 years, Urban Tales has delivered 133 stories written by 74 authors which have been told by 112 actors. This 2023 vintage, under the direction of Martin Desgagné and with music by Harry Standjofski, features seven performers who will play seven tales taken from the repertoire of the author of Regulation of Tales. “It’s a sort of anthology, not a best of,” explains Yvan Bienvenue. Because there are successful stories that are not on the program. »
Over the years, the author believes that the concept had become more and more theatrical. He wanted to get back to the source of the “counterstory”. “Storytellers are smugglers,” he says. There are several different approaches to the art of storytelling. From oral tradition to folklore and terroir, including the spectacularization of tales in the 2000s.”
“When I take the metro in Montreal, I see a diversity of people that I don’t find in the theater. Yvan gives voice to these people in his texts,” says actress Julie Vincent, who will write the story Sano Mado.
“I have always written social theater,” agrees the author. I come from social work. I studied social sciences before studying acting at the École nationale and doing improv. The story is the theater of urgency, of necessity. The spectator becomes an accomplice of the performers through their gaze. »
Yvan Bienvenue believes that the popularity of Urban Tales, and of storytellers in general in Quebec, is due to the proximity and accessibility of this speaking on stage. “You don’t have to have a big theatrical machine behind you or a big set. Before, there were Poetry Nights. Storytelling shows have replaced these evenings, because storytelling is a less hermetic form than poetry for the general public. »
Who says urban also says nocturnal, as in Last-cul, the tale interpreted by Dominique Laniel, the summary of which reads as follows: “Neither Madeleine de Proust, nor Madeleine de Brel, Mademoiselle Madeleine is Sano Mado. The one whose loves are unspeakable; the one whose antics make you blush… Blush Santa Claus red. »
Successfully created last April, the show Unbearable Long Embraces is being revived this fall at the Prospero Theater. This confusing text by Russian author Ivan Viripaev, brilliantly directed by Philippe Cyr, forms a setting for four virtuoso performers: Christine Beaulieu (sublime!), Marc Beaupré, Joanie Guérin and Simon Lacroix. Winner of the prize for best show in Montreal from the Quebec Association of Theater Critics, awarded Monday evening, Unbearable Long Embraces is almost sold out, but two additional ones have been added, on December 18 and 19.
Established in Quebec, the Théâtre à Tempo comes to Tohu with a show celebrating the glory of camping, with its joys, its miseries and its stereotypes. Dance, circus, music and clown art come together in this production which brings together a host of colorful characters. Namely, Camping delighted the critics, especially during its visit to the provincial capital. A show for everyone, lasting 100 minutes (with intermission). From December 13 to 31 at Tohu.
Television has its Bye Bye, the world of theater now has its retrospective of the year, entitled Today Tonight. Director Alix Dufresne has teamed up with several great names in the discipline (including Ève Landry, Olivier Morin and Debbie Lynch-White) to put together a show about the theater year that has just ended. We announce a crazy “late show”, with sketches, music and surprise guests. Hurry, there are few places left on December 12, 13 and 14 at the Center du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, at the time of writing these lines…
It has become a tradition in Quebec City. For the 13th year, the vaults of Maison Chevalier welcome Tales to pass the time. This multi-handed show adds a theatrical and sweet touch (a dessert counter is available!) to the end-of-year festivities. Maxime Robin is once again at the helm of this production which will this time focus on the theme of superstition. What do you expect, not every day is 13! From December 18 to 30 at Maison Chevalier.
Teenagers (and adults curious about poetry) are invited to La Maison Théâtre for the show Dessiner dans les margines – Stand-up poem for part-time ghosts. Carolanne Foucher’s collection of poetry for adolescents has been adapted for the stage. The result ? A show for solo actress and drummer, directed by Olivier Normand. An invitation to enter the head of a third-year secondary school student who is somewhat invisible, but whose heart oscillates between heaviness and lightness. Until December 9 at La Maison Théâtre.
The Petit Théâtre du Nord does it again with its third Festive Evenings, presented at the Boisbriand Creation Center. This year, these evenings of unique stories are taking place under the theme of builders of the future. The show will pay tribute to the industries and businesses that have shaped the Laurentides region. On the program: texts by Robert Lalonde, Marianne Dansereau, Jonathan Caron and Geneviève Bélisle, carried by a cast of five performers. Benoît Archambault will be there to add a musical touch to the evening. Until December 16.
