Dates & location
- Preview December 12, 2023, at 7pm
- December 13 to 15, 2023, at 7pm
- December 16, 2023, at 1 pm
André-Pagé Studio
Saint-Denis Campus (Laurier metro)
5030 Saint-Denis, Montréal
The show is in English.
High above the city, Beatrice sits on the 33rd floor of an office tower waiting for the right man to respond to her ad. When John appears, the games begin. But if he wins, what then? A play about the difficulty of connection and the meaning of love.
This show is directed by graduating Directing student Danik McAfee.
Written by: Carole Fréchette (Interprétation, 1973)
Translated by: John Murrell
Duration: 90 minutes
Audience disclaimer: The production will include flashing lights.
Cast & creative team
The creative and production team is composed of students in Production Design and Technical Arts, the New Pathways Indigenous Residency, and Set and Costume Design, as well as professional guest artists.
Tickets
- Tickets available here.
- Note that all our student shows are FREE. You can support our students' work by making a donation to the National Theatre School (NTS).
A Word From Our Director
Like many of my friends, I grew up thinking that, one day, my perfect prince would appear. However, as I embarked on my journey for love as a fabulous two-spirited individual, I discovered it to be more difficult than the fairytales suggested. This pursuit poses challenges for everyone. Yet, encountering John and Beatrice prompted me to ponder the complexities women face in their pursuit of love. I've observed my friends get dolled-up for dates, strategize to be alluring, and engage in endless discussions about what to eat in front of a guy, what not to say, how to behave, etc. Yet, isn't true love found by embracing the person before you, not the meticulously crafted facade? While it may seem straightforward, societal conditioning often steers us in the opposite direction.
In life, we all share a fundamental need for love, but from an early age, we've been fed stories of princesses and happily-ever-afters, shaping our views on womanhood and exacerbating its inequalities.
In this production, we delve into the influences that impose limitations based on gender, questioning how tales as old as time can empower one sex over the other. Carole Fréchette, a key figure in 1970s Québec's feminist theatre movement, brings a poignant reflection on feminism to John and Beatrice. In this modern fairytale, we explore the intricate sensitivities Beatrice navigates in her quest for love and her battle between her truth and societal expectations.
Love isn’t gendered.
Love is for everyone.
Love is something we all deserve to feel without trying to mask our true self.
Because “When you love someone, you tell them the truth.” (John and Beatrice, Carole Fréchette)
- Danik McAfee (Directing, 2024)
Team
CAST - professionals
Qasim Khan
John
Amelia Sargisson
Beatrice
CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM - graduating students
Danik McAfeeD2
Director
Gatineau, QC
Algonquin territory
Sahdia Cayemithe-DaceusSCD3
Assistant Set Designer
Saffiya KherrajiSCD3
Costume Designer
Lindsay, ON
Mississauga lands and the traditional territory covered by the Williams Treaties
Jessica Campbell-MaracleNP3
Stage Manager
Toronto Tkaronto
Treaty 13
CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM - professionals
Margarita Brodie (Set and Costume Design, 2020)
Set Designer
Troy Slocum
Sound Designer
Lee Tucker / Shopdogs (PDTA, 2018)
Production Manager / Technical Director
CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM - students
Angeles Silva LizarragaSCD1
Costume Assistant
Alex SykesPDTA2
Lighting Designer
Shivonne StevensPDTA1
Assistant Stage Manager
Brianna Kahentanó:ron MontourNP1
Assistant Production Manager / Technical Director
Beatrice FreedmanPDTA2
Head of Lighting / Head of Sound
Lia WrightPDTA3, João VelosoPDTA1, Katie WebbPDTA1, Sephora N’KosiPDTA1 and Dani RoyerPDTA1
Crew
COACHES
Jillian Keiley
Directing Mentor
Hannah Fisher (Set and Costume Design, 2019)
Costume Design
Paul Chambers
Lighting Design
Andrea Lundy
Production Management
Danielle Laurin
Stage Management
Michael Slack (Set and Costume Design, 2001) and Julia Metzger
Costume Project Managers
Anita Nittoly
Fight Director/Intimacy Coach
Acknowledgments
Romain Camiolo for composing some of the music for the production and to Gaya LaMouche for designing the poster.
Meg Murrell-Peloquin for her flexibility and cooperation with regards to the licensing rights for the translation.
Teesri Duniya Theatre for their land acknowledgement that we used for the preshow announcement.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The land on which we are gathered has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst nations. It is part of the traditional unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka, whose rich cultural heritage continues to teach us that respect, dialogue and peace are pillars of democratic governance.
Photos
Danik McAfee (Directing, 2024), Qasim Khan and Amelia Sargisson in rehearsal.
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