Cispersonnages en quête d’auteurice
(Cis-characters in Search of an Author)
A troupe of professional actors finds itself in a rehearsal hall working on a new play. In order to overcome the creative block bogging them all down, each of them throws out scenario after scenario, idea after idea. Caught between their dramatic intent and their numerous ethical principles, they discover that their play space has become a minefield where artistic liberty is under threat.
In Luigi Pirandello’s play Six Characters in Search of an Author (1921), two groups are in conflict: the actors—the professionals constructing the play—and a family shamelessly offering up their intimate little dramas as fodder. The confrontations that ensue, between identity and appropriation, lived experience and performance, truth and fiction, still resonate with us now, a full century later, when the acting craft is once again at the heart of the many debates on cultural appropriation and the legitimacy of the artist. By borrowing Pirandello’s title and the broad strokes of the play-within-a-play, JJJ dares to investigate the ruptures and reflections taking place in our society, which is moving painfully and inexorably towards realizing the ideals of equity of inclusion. The result is a very unethical comedy that doesn’t presume to clear up the surrounding confusion. What we can promise you, however, is laughter… forced, full-bodied, or both!
The tour has ended in winter 2025.
Co-production of the FTA and Théâtre Gilles-Vigneault.
Presented from May 31 to June 3, 2023, at Espace Libre as part of Festival TransAmériques.
Presented from March 12 to March 23, 2024, at Espace Libre.
Photos: Thibault Carron
Text devised by Catherine Bourgeois with Pénélope Bourque, Maryline Chery, Guy-Philippe Côté, Edon Descollines, Louis Girandello, Pénélope Goulet-Simard, Jean-François Huppé, Hubert Lemire, Michael Nimbley, Audrey Talbot and Anne Tremblay.
Direction and scenography Catherine Bourgeois
Performers Maryline Chery or Caroline Tosti, Guy-Philippe Côté, Edon Descollines, Pénélope Goulet-Simard, Hubert Lemire or David Noël, Michael Nimbley, Audrey Talbot.
Costume design and scenography Amy Keith
Lighting design Jean Jauvin
Sound design Alexander MacSween
Dramaturgy Sara Fauteux
Translation of surtitle Bobby Theodore
Rehearsal coach, support worker, and walk-on Paul Patrick Charbonneau
Assistant director Alexie Pommier
Scenography assistant Alizée Milot
Costume assistant Carolie Delisle
Production manager Pénélope Bourque
Technical direction Lindsay Morneau
Touring technical direction Pierre Tripard or Charlotte Baker
Sound operator Andréa Marsolais-Roy
Stage management Audrey Belzile
ENGLISH SURTITLED PERFORMANCES
English surtitles are projected onstage simultaneously, thus allowing English-speaking audience-members to enjoy the show. The following performances will be surtitled:
Friday, December 6 2025, at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa)
RELAXED PERFORMANCES
Relaxed performances are open to everyone, particularly adapted to the needs of people on the autism spectrum, people with cognitive limitations, a sensory, neurological or learning disorder, and to people accompanied by newborns. The sound and visual ambiance of the show, as well as the reception, are adapted to create a calmer and more inclusive environment.
There will be relaxed performances on the following dates:
Saturday, December 7 2025 at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa)
POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
At the end of the following performances, we invite you to stay to participate in the discussion with the artists of the production:
Wednesday, November 27 2025 at Théâtre Gilles-Vigneault
Friday, December 6 2025 at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa)
ACCESSIBILITY
FOR BLIND AND LOW-VISION PATRONS
Audidescription is the process of orally describing the visual and sensory elements of a work for blind or low-vision audience members to enjoy better access the performance.
A smartphone and headphones/earbuds are required in order to access the audio description service during the performance.
Please contact the box office staff if you are a blind or visually-impaired person who will not be accompanied during the performance and/or if you wish to access the audio description program, but do not own a smartphone or headphones.
Blind and low-vision patrons are invited to a tactile tour of the set one hour before the start of audio-described performances.
ACCESSIBILITY
FOR HEARING-IMPAIRED PATRONS
Theses performances are offered with additional acoustic support allowing access to sound amplification of the show. A smartphone and a pair of headphones are required to benefit from additional acoustic support during the show.
The work is not available in Quebec Sign Language (LSQ), nor in American Sign Language (ASL). For further information, you can contact us : [email protected] or 514-279-9821.
