The legendary Denise Filiatraut was full of energy on Monday at the unveiling of the program for the Théâtre du Rideau Vert (TRV) season 2023-2024.
With a beaming smile, she recalled the beginning of her career at the Rideau Vert, a name then given “as a symbol of youth and the eternal renewal of spring”.
The setting where Michel Tremblay’s mythical play “Les Belles-Sœurs” was created offers a place of honor with its eight proposals for young people and renowned directors who will be working there for the first time.
Yvette Brind’Amour and Mercedes Palomino founded the Rideau Vert in 1948 and the official inauguration took place on February 17, 1949. Three quarters of a century later, Ms. Filiatraut has been its artistic director for 19 years, a task that continues to inspire her.
“There is something for everyone next season. There are more intellectual pieces and others for people who want to laugh,” she told QMI Agency.
Marie Brassard, who has never been associated with the Rideau Vert, will direct emerging talent in the play ‘L’ombre’, a co-production between TRV and the French National Arts Centre’s theatre, from August 23rd to September 9th. She said Monday that she was excited to introduce new “actor-creators.”
“We thought it was great that the 75-year-old opened up with a gang of young people. The next generation in place at the Rideau Vert. We are not old because we are 75 years old, we are still young at heart! said Managing Director Celine Marcotte.
From September 27 to October 28, Nathalie Malette can be seen in Un réel ben beau, ben triste, a text by Jeanne-Mance Delisle written almost 40 years ago. For director Marc Béland, the text is also relevant because it addresses violence as a form of communication within a family.
The current year will of course be “checked and corrected” from November 29 to January 7, 2024. All the actors are back for the first time, namely Pierre Brassard, Monica Pilon, Benoit Paquette, Marie-Eve Sansfaçon and Marc St-Martin, directed by Natalie Lecompte.
Benoit McGinnis, the man of many talents, will step into the shoes of Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who solved the mystery of Hitler’s secret communications during World War II. Director Sébastien David will also direct Gabriel Cloutier-Tremblay, Jean-Moïse Martin and Étienne Pilon for the first time at the Rideau Vert in this play written by Frenchman Benoit Solès.
Director Brigitte Poupart will also be at the Rideau Vert for the first time from 12 March to 13 April 2024 for the play “Jamais, always, fois”. Lauren Hartley, Annick Bergeron, Simon Landry-Désy and Marie – Laurence Moreau will provide the answer in this work focusing on an 18 year old young woman who has been taking medication since she was 11…
Sylvie Drapeau will shine in Mademoiselle Agnès, a contemporary adaptation of Molière’s Misanthrope. Director Louis-Karl Tremblay, as you have understood, will also be attending the Rideau Vert for the first time.
Actress and singer Catherine Sénart will sing songs by Stéphane Venne from November 9th to 11th. This is a new version and Mr Venne particularly likes Sénart’s interpretation, he stressed on Monday.
The season concludes on June 8th with the presentation of The Crossing of the Century, celebrating the work and key characters of Michel Tremblay in a staging, adaptation and dramaturgy by Alice Ronfard. The Lecture River show spans a dozen hours and is also presented in collaboration with several other theaters.
A book for 75 years
The richly illustrated book The Théâtre du Rideau Vert – A First Role in History will be published in September to celebrate the 75th anniversary in style. There will also be a photo exhibition on Rue Saint-Denis.