When a woman accidentally swallows the seed from an ancient tree and becomes pregnant, her life and reality begin to change, forever. Three hundred years in the past, a young woman and her lover fight to survive amidst the dangers of impending armed conflict. Connecting through time and place, the two women struggle to live in changing worlds—and a force of nature bigger than they can understand struggles alongside them.
The New Words Festival is the culminating project of the graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada’s English Section. Two brand-new, never-before-produced plays run in repertory during the students’ final week at the School, just days before graduation. Written by students in NTS’s Playwriting Program, and realized by students in the Acting, Production Design and Technical Arts, and Set and Costume Design programs, the plays produced at the New Words Festival mark the end of the students’ formal training and the beginning of their professional careers. A showcase for exciting new talent, New Words is particularly poignant for the playwrights whose plays reach the public for the very first time during their tenure at NTS. Join us in celebrating these artists who will shape the future of Canadian theatre by taking in both exciting productions on offer this year!
–Andrea Romaldi, Director of the Playwriting program
Working on new plays is different, and it brings so many unique challenges. Witnessing everyone maneuver through the process, always with the focus on serving the play, has been a joy and made it a real pleasure to be a part of the company of people that created this play.
I’d like to acknowledge and thank:
Kinsey for her courage to put a new play into the world and for her openness to listening as I tried to find my way into it.
Brianna, Eiden, Jake, Jess, Liz, and Pen for their imaginations and their instant embrace of the idea that we should create a fairy tale world and for their execution in doing just that.
Artie, Bella, Benan, Jake, and Madeleine for the care and love they brought to the story, to the characters, and to each other.
Bea for her partnership and always insightful observations.
The entire production team- Alex, Duncan, Tehatkatonnions, Joao, Nico, Xasha, Sephora, Max, Aydin, Maiyah, Kate, Kathleen and Matthew (they are many and mighty) for their sense of humour, creativity and commitment to bringing the world of this play to life.
The national theatre community is gaining a great many wonderful artists with this graduating class. I’m so excited to see what stories they tell.
Sit forward and enjoy.
Dean Patrick Fleming
Duration: 90 minutes
Hydro-Québec Studio
Monument-National Campus
(St-Laurent metro)
1182 Saint-Laurent, Montréal
The show is in English.
Everything seen on stage and all that goes on behind the scenes is created by students in Playwriting, Production Design and Technical Arts, Set and Costume Design, and Acting, under the guidance of professional guest artists.
At the National Theatre School of Canada, we believe that theatre should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we are introducing a pay-what-you-can ticketing system, allowing everyone to attend our productions regardless of their financial situation.
Audiences can choose from five ticket categories based on what best suits their circumstances. Each ticket purchased not only supports our programs, but also helps make the theatre more inclusive and accessible to everyone.
The available rates are as follows:
Each ticket purchased not only supports our programs, but also helps make the theatre more inclusive and accessible to everyone.
Kinsey HollisP3
Winnipeg / Treaty 1, MB
Benan AliA3
Colm
Edmonton, A
Traditional territory of the Cree, Dene, Nakota Sioux, Anishinaabe, and Niitsitapi
Jake CohenA3
Vincent
Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, QC
Unceded traditional Kanien’kehá:ka territory
Artie LorraineA3
Sybil / Intimacy Captain
Winnipeg, MB
Treaty 1 Territory
Bella ReyesA3
Francesca
Ottawa, ON
Traditional unceded territory of the Anishinàbe Algonquin People
Madeleine Scovil (Acting, 2023)
Bronwyn
Jess J. JanderaSCD3
Set Designer
Vancouver, BC
Unceded shared territories of the, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations
Jake FriesenSCD3
Props Designer / Poster Co-designer
Kelowna, BC
Unceded Sylix Okanagan territory
Kahentanó:ron Bri MontourNPR
Lighting Designer
Kahnawà:ke, QC
Kanien’kehá:ka Territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy
Elizabeth PagePDTA3(NP)
Video Designer
Calgary/Mohkinstsis (Treaty 7)
Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the îethka Nakoda Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney), the Otipemisiwak Métis Government (Districts 5 and 6)
Eiden FrenchPDTA3
Sound Designer and Composer
Bath, Maine
Traditional Territory Arosaguntacook and Nanrantsouak of the Wabanaki Confederacy
Alex JoycePDTA3
Production Manager
Goulds, NL
Ktaqmkuk, unceded traditional Beothuk & Mi’kmaw territory
Beatrice FreedmanPDTA3
Stage Manager
Hamilton, ON
traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas
Pen Tsin (Set and Costume Design, 2024)
Costume, Hair and Makeup Designer
Saffiya Kherraji (Set and Costume Design, 2024)
Assistant Costume Designer
Vivienne Angélique (Set and Costume Design, 2022)
Assistant Set Designer
Jeremy Taylor (Playwriting, 2010)
Dramaturg
Duncan GouldIR
Technical Director
Tehahtkatonnions BushPDTA1
Assistant Stage Manager
João VelosoPDTA2
Assistant Technical Director
Nico NogueraPDTA2
Head Carpenter
Shivonne StevensPDTA2
Head of Lighting
Sephora N’KosiPDTA2
Head of Video
Max MalfaraPDTA2
Head of Sound
Matthew IvanoffPDTA1
Carpenter/Video Assistant
Maiyah JohnsonPDTA1
Carpenter/Sound Assistant
Kate Munro-BergfeldtPDTA1
Carpenter/Lighting Assistant
Kathleen GreeningPDTA1
Carpenter/Crew
Aydin DezellPDTA1
Carpenter/Crew
Andrea Lundy
Program Director and Production Management
Rebecca Harper
Head of Movement
Lauren Maykut
Head of Voice
Jonathan Patterson
Head of Music
Nicole Moller
Fight Director/Intimacy Coach
Marjorie Lefebvre
Technical Coach
Angela Rassenti (Set and Costume Design, 2008)
Properties
Véronique Pagnoux
Scenic Painting
Guillaume Simard (Création et production, 2010)
Head Carpenter – Scene Shop
Christian Larochelle
Scene Shop Carpenter
Jérémie Busque
MN Stage Carpenter and Head of Video
Camille Pilon-Laurin
MN Head of Lighting
Bianca Bernier
MN Head of Sound
Julia Metzger
Costume Project Manager
Michael Slack (Set and Costume Design, 2001)
Costume Project Manager
Raphaëlle Rieu
Sewist
Hugues Auguste
Costume Workshop Assistant
Floriane Vachon
Wardrobe Storage Supervisor
Amir Ofek
Set Design
Florence Cornet
Makeup
Stéphane Scotto di Cesare
Hair
Ken MacKenzie
Lighting Design
Andy Moro
Video Design
Rob Denton
Sound Design
Christine Oakey
Stage Management
Autumn Coppaway
Technical Direction
Alain Spooner
Cutter
Mélanie Turcotte
Costume Breakdown
Julie Fournier
Eco Project Manager
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
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.
Support the students’ work by making a donation to the School today!
