The Parliament of the Birds 

October 20–24, 2026

By Guillermo Verdecchia, adapted from The Conference of the Birds by Farid Ud-din Attar
Directed by Soheil Parsa

Synopsis

Believing better is possible is the first step. When the call goes out the birds of the world – all sizes, colours, and abilities – gather as one great flock, and embark on an epic journey in search of self, enlightenment, and truth. The beloved allegorical poem by Persian poet Farid al-Din Attar comes to life in a new adaptation filled with hope, that is both timeless and sits firmly in the present.

Director words

Today, The Parliament of Birds speaks to us with surprising clarity. We are living in a world filled with conflict, confusion, and division, and Attar’s story — brought into our contemporary moment through Guillermo Verdecchia’s thoughtful adaptation — reminds us that these struggles are not new. His birds, each with their fears and excuses, look very much like us as they search for meaning, direction, and hope.

What makes this play so relevant now is its belief that our differences — racial, religious, cultural, or political — are not what define us. In Attar’s universe, these boundaries fall away. What remains is a shared human longing: to understand ourselves, to find purpose, and to live in a more compassionate and just world.

The journey of the birds is really the journey of all of us. It asks us to look honestly at our own limitations, to question the illusions we hold onto, and to imagine what might be possible if we moved forward together.

In returning to this timeless story, through Guillermo’s adaptation, we are reminded that art can still bring people together, open conversations, and help us see one another with greater empathy. The Parliament of Birds invites us to pause, reflect, and remember that despite everything that divides us, we are connected by the same hopes and the same longing for a better world.

– Soheil Parsa

Dates & location

  • Opening: October 20, 2026 at 7:30pm
  • October 21, 2026 at 7:30pm
  • October 22, 2026 at 7:30pm
  • October 23, 2026 at 7:30pm
  • October 24, 2026 at 1:00pm

Duration: TBD

Hydro-Québec Studio
Monument-National Campus
(St-Laurent metro)
1182 Saint-Laurent, Montréal

The show is in English.

Cast & creative team

By Guillermo Verdecchia, featuring graduating students from the Acting, Set & Costume Design, Production Design & Technical Arts programs in the English section.

Tickets

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Ticket rates 

  • Affordable
    $10 (service fees included)If full rate is out of reach, this ticket is for you.
  • Regular
    $20 (+ service fees)
    Reflects the actual value of a ticket.

  • Solidarity
    $40 (+ service fees)Supports access to theatre by allowing others to benefit from the affordable rate.
  • Impact
    $80 (+ service fees)Extends the reach of the Solidarity rate even further, making theatre accessible to more people.

The School has introduced solidarity-based ticketing to make theatre accessible to everyone, whatever their financial situation. Training the next generation in front of a diverse audience is part of our mission and is essential to our students’ learning. That is why, thanks to the generosity of those who choose the Solidarity or Impact rates, we can offer affordable tickets to more people, creating a truly inclusive theatre where everyone can see themselves reflected and feel that they belong.

Team

CAST - Graduating Students


Sarah BergbuschA3
Pigeon
Regina, SK
The traditional lands of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Nakoda, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation


Bianca BrugmanA3
Cardinal
Stettler, AB
Treaty 7 territory South of the Red Deer River, the traditional land of the Kainai, Piikani, Siksika as well as the Tsuu T’ina First Nation and Stoney Nakoda First Nation


Finley BurkeA3
King, Monk, Hermit, and Border Control
Toronto, ON
Traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit


Talia ‘Ty’ CohenA3
Duck
Toronto, ON
Located on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples


Noah HammermeisterA3
Parrot
Regina, SK
Treaty 4 Territory. the traditional lands of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Nakoda, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation


Thea KnickleA3
Servant, Princess, Bat, Old One, Traveler, and Herald
Charlottetown, PEI
Epekwitk, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people


Matthew LupuA3
Falcon
Winnipeg, MB
The Land of the Anishinaabeg, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuliné, Nehethowuk Nations, and the Red River Métis


Naiya Marie ForresterA3
Hoopoe
Toronto, ON
Tkaronto, the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples


Alexis MoresideA3
Queen, Prisoner, Walker, Astrologer, and Moth
Red Deer, AB
Treaty Six territory to the North of the Red Deer River, the traditional territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, and Nakota Sioux. Treaty 7 territory South of the Red Deer River, the traditional land of the Kainai, Piikani, Siksika as well as the Tsuu T’ina First Nation and Stoney Nakoda First Nation


Nancy NgoA3
Sparrow
Calgary, AB
The traditional territory of the Blackfoot Nations, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Métis Nation


Alexander WilsonA3
Crow
Carbonear, NL
Ktaqmkuk, traditional territories of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit

 

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM – Graduating Students


Cameron GillieSC3
Set Designer
Squamish, BC
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, the traditional and unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw


Dylan DesjardinsSC3
Assistant Set Designer
London, ON
Attawandaron, Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Lunaapeewak the traditional and unceded territory of the Chippewas of the Thames first Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and Munsee-Delaware Nation


Shea SpaffordSC3
Costume Designer
Yarker, ON
The Crawford Purchase Treaty, home of the Wendake-Nionwentsïo, Mississauga, Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ


Siloé André MelançonIR
Assistant Costume Designer
Montréal, QC
Kanien’kehá:ka, traditional and unceded territory of the Mohawk people


Teddy MacRaePDTA3
Lighting Designer
Coquitlam, BC
Unceded territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) nation, as well as Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Stó:lō peoples


Sara StarlingPDTA3
Sound Designer
Whitby, ON
The traditional and unceded territory of the Wendake-Nionwentsïo, Haudenosaunee, Mississauga, and Anishinabewaki people


Matthew Ivanoff PDTA3
Video Designer
Tkaronto, ON
Where there are trees standing in the water. Traditional Territory of the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinabek First Nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit


Kate Munro-BergfeldtPDTA3
Production Manager
Sydney, NS
Mi’kma’ki, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people


Kathleen GreeningPDTA3
Technical Director
Forest, ON
Chippewa, Odawa, Potawatomi known as the Anishinaabeg, and the Delaware known as the Lunaapeew land


Aydin DezellPDTA3
Assistant Technical Director
Brantford, ON
Situated alongside the Six Nations of the Grand River- the largest First Nations reserve in Canada- on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee people


Maiyah JohnsonPDTA3
Stage Manager
Burnaby, BC
Located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ, and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Peoples

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM – Professionals

Soheil Parsa
Director

CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM – Students

Castor AngusPDTA2
Head of Sound

Julie PaterPDTA2
Head of Video

Kyra MevisPDTA2
Head Carpenter

Will IsenorPDTA2
Head of Lighting

Zoé Cajelait-AschPDTA2
Assistant Lighting Designer

Siloe MelançonSCD Independent Resident
Costume Assistant

Vanessa MarionPDTA2
Associate ATD

Molly CummingsPDTA2
Assistant Production Manager

Caitlyn GrantPDTA2
Assistant Stage Manager

Alistair LeongPDTA1
Assistant Stage Manager

Claire CousineauPDTA1
Lighting Assistant

Colwyn AlletsonPDTA1
Sound Assistant

Maggie DuffPDTA1
Video Assistant

Hugo Vieuxloup-BoulainPDTA1
Stagehand

Janelle HainesPDTA1
Stagehand

Malcolm BrownPDTA1
Stagehand

Sarah RyanPDTA1
Stagehand

COACHES -Staff

Andrea Lundy
Program Director and Production Management

Rebecca Harper
Movement

Lauren Maykut
Voice

Jonathan Patterson
Music

Marjorie Lefebvre
Technical Coach

Marguerite Hudon
Assistant Technical Coach

Eve-Lyne Dallaire
Properties

Véronique Pagnoux
Scenic Painting

Guillaume Simard
Head Carpenter – Scene Shop
Création et production, 2010

Christian Larochelle
Scene Shop Carpenter

Julia Metzger
Costume Project Manager

Michael Slack
Costume Project Manager
Set and Costume Design, 2001

Floriane Vachon
Wardrobe Storage Supervisor & Dressing Coach

Dave Surette
Interim Technical Director St. D

Alexandre Filion
Interim Asst. Technical Director St. D

Marc-André Couture
Technical Director MN

Thomas Morgan Jones
Artistic Director

Quincy Armorer
Program Director – Acting

Andrea Romaldi
Program Director – Playwrighting

Stéphane Longpré
Program Director – Set and Costume Design

Jeanne Dupré
Design coordinator

Maxime Côté
Photographer

COACHES - Professional

Véronique St-Germain
Makeup

Stéphane Scotto di Cesare 
Hair

Diana Uribe
Set Design

Julie Vallée-Léger
Costume Design

Amber Hood
Lighting Design

Andrew Scriver
Video Design
Production Design & Technical Arts, 2015

Aaron Collier
Sound Design

Neha Ross
Stage Management

Aurora Torok
Technical Direction
Production Design & Technical Arts, 2018

Marieke Séguin
Rigging

Michel Proulx
Cutter

Raphaëlle Rieu
Stitcher

Mélanie Turcotte 
Dye and Patina

Legend

Legend: A Acting, SCD Set and Costume Design, PDTA Production Design & Technical Arts, DIR Directing, PW Playwriting, IR Independent Resident, NP New Pathway, NPR New Pathway Resident // 1 First-year student, 2 Second-year student, 3 Third-year student

Land Acknowledgment

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. 

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