Through history, personal stories and laughter, Mani Soleymanlou recreates for Canada’s Francophonie this plural and shifting discourse on language, migration and identity. A solo, a duet and then a chorus of 40 voices from the four corners of Canada, UN. DEUX. TROIS. delivers a polyphony of urgent humanity.
Trois is a show that questions our roots and aspirations, what unites us and what and divides us, through the Russian nesting dolls of identity that constitute us. A show that dares to do all this, without speeches or signs, without rhetoric or empty phrases, and that reaches out to engage with the audience. From one accent to another. From one ocean to another.
Founded in 2011 in Montreal by Mani Soleymanlou, Orange Noyée takes its name from a Persian tradition. During the Iranian New Year, house decorations include a bowl of water with an orange floating in it. The orange represents the earth floating in its universe, the bowl of water. The name Orange Noyée (“drowned orange”) invokes the earth drowning in its universe. The notion that we are submerged by our time, our era, is at the heart of the works created by the company and its artisans.
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $165,000 supports a creation workshop to explore the work’s scenic and dramaturgical elements with the large cast of performers and co-creators from across the country, followed by an extended rehearsal period to finalize the text. Part of this work also includes adapting some scenes, which will be tailored to each community that the production tours to.
Project developed by Orange Noyée and NAC French Theatre, in association with Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario (Sudbury), Théâtre français de Toronto, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe (Montréal), Théâtre du Trident (Québec), Théâtre populaire d’Acadie (Caraquet), Théâtre l’Escaouette (Moncton), Théâtre la Seizième (Vancouver) and Théâtre Cercle Molière (Winnipeg).
Developed with assistance from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund and the Cole Foundation.
September 28 to October 1, 2022: Babs Asper Theatre (Ottawa), presented by NAC French Theatre
October 5 to 8, 2022: Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario (Sudbury)
October 13 to 16, 2022: Berkeley Street Theatre (Toronto), presented by Théâtre français de Toronto and Canadian Stage
October 20 to 23, 2022: Théâtre Jean-Duceppe (Montreal)
October 27 to 29, 2022: Grand Théâtre de Québec, presented by Le Trident
November 2 & 3, 2022: Théâtre populaire d'Acadie (Caraquet)
November 5 & 6, 2022: Théâtre l'Escaouette (Moncton)
November 11 & 12, 2022: Théâtre la Seizième (Vancouver)
November 17 to 20, 2022: Théâtre Cercle Molière (Winnipeg)
