by

Imagine your grandparents and what they lived through when

they were your age. Eight outstanding performers dug through

the histories of their families. They unveiled stories from the

past and skeletons in the closets that reflected, in some way or

another, how they experience life today.

Through a unique, riveting mix of theatre, circus, dance, music,

and acrobatics, Reversible is dedicated to a generation who

forged the world that we live in today and whose stories might

hold the key to a better tomorrow. Our elders lived in a simpler

era, when time moved at a less rapid pace. This time in history

inspired poetry, imagination, passion, and staggering virtuosity.

Are these stories written in our DNA? How will the past guide

our evolution in the future?

With the 7 Fingers’ Reversible, be prepared for the best in

contemporary circus: moments of pure grace yielding to rushes

of adrenalin, as a cast of multi-talented performers travel through

time and space. Be part of a vibrant journey that will give you

goose bumps: peek through the key hole at a reversible world,

where everyday life is turned upside down into new specta-

cular, universes filled with beauty, emotion and – yes- hope.

VIDEO TEASER

“The circus troupe asserts more than ever its unique and by now unmistakable style.” Le Devoir (Canada)

“Speaks of the passing of time, of our ancestor’s legacies, and of our own quest to find our bearings.”La Presse (Canada)

“Elegant, like a poem of the stage” Planète Québec (Canada)

“A great work, intense and full of meaning” QuébecSpot (Canada)

“Takes the audience on an extraordinary journey, at once sensual

and energetic, in which the past nourishes the present.“

Go’Met (France)

“Breathtaking physical grace” Sors-Tu (Canada)

“A good excuse to talk about your grandparents or your great-grandparents to your children.”Avenues (Canada)

“Run! A modern and poetic show where circus arts, music

and dance coexist perfectly. This company, one that showcases

Quebec around the world, is something to be proud of.”

Le Journal de Montréal (Canada)

“The eight-strong cast perform with Buster Keaton-like aplomb.”Montreal Gazette (Canada)

“The show will speak to children just as, on different levels,

it speaks to their elders. Here, resilient generations meet—

generations who are able to break through walls to keep

history in motion.”

Théâtrorama (France)

hula hoop german wheel

korean plank juggling

contorsionaerials

chinese polechinese hoop

handstand

jérémi lévesquemaria del mar reyesvincent jutrasémilie silliauhugo ragetlyemi vautheyjulien silliaunatasha patterson

DIRECTION GYPSY SNIDER

Gypsy Snider wrote, directed, and choreographed Loft, Traces, Amuse, Un Dia, and Intersection. She is currently creating and directing the company’s upcoming touring show, Reversible.

Gypsy has also choreographed televised fea-ture performances for America’s Got Talent, Her Majesty’s Royal Variety Performance, The illusionist: Darcy Oake’s Edge of Reality and the Underwear and Denim Fashion show for Bench Philippines.

In 2013, working with director Diane Paulus on a new vision of Pippin, Gypsy integrated circus into the narrative and choreography of the Broadway musical. Gypsy’s work on Pippin earned her a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

Originally from San Francisco, Gypsy is the daugh-ter of the founders of The Pickle Family Circus. She received her degree in Physical Theater at the Scuola Teatro Dimitri in Switzerland in 1993, and then continued to perform internationally for 18 years. Gypsy is also a guest teacher and director at the National Circus School of Montreal.

In 2015, she received the Evolving Circus Award in New York City.

Interviewwith

GYPSY SNIDER

A year ago we started a research project for Reversible. The idea was that we were going to base the characters in our story on characters that were very deeply inherent in ourselves. So I sent the cast out last November (2015) to start looking into their genealogy. They had to go at least to their grandpa-rents, but some of them went as far as their great-grandparents and their great-great-grandparents. I wanted them to create characters based on where they came from, a past that they were not even aware of. The idea was that in studying that past, they might see a deeper, stronger path to how they became the people that they are. And the idea was that we would then construct characters to tell the story of Reversible based on events that occur-red in these artists’ DNA pool over the last 150 years.

This has proven to be the deepest and most exciting part of creating Rever-sible. Every day they’d come back with new stories about their grandparents or their great-grandparents, things they had no idea about. One girl found out she was Jewish, she had no idea. One girl who is Swiss found out that her Japanese grandmother had abandoned an arranged marriage in Japan and ran away with a Swiss man. She became the first woman to immigrate to this tiny Swiss village. The stories are just incredible. What we’re feeling in this current generation is that we are uprooted. We are not as connected to family and past as we were even 50 years ago.

What is the theme of Reversible?

Who are the artists on stage?Once the concept behind Reversible was established, it came to casting. In casting the show, it was really important that we had the usual 7 Fingers versatile cast. A cast that is not only made of incredible acrobats and jugglers, but also a cast of characters that were really going to mould them-selves to the experience that I was trying to create—that I am trying to create. I knew I wanted four men and four women to balance out either side of the walls. I knew I wanted people who were going to help me write the story from their personal experience.

What has the creative process of Reversible been like?The process for Reversible is based on the creative process the 7 Fingers have been developing over the last 15 years. We begin with a spark, an idea, a desire to express and explore a concept that fascinates us, something that we feel will fulfill our search for a better humanity, for a better understanding of who we are. We write the concept—the story writing happens in our minds, at the writing table between the 7 Fingers— and we develop the idea together, we take a storyline, a vehicle to explore the capacity of storytelling through circus, and then we cast a show of cha-racters based on that desire and through improvisation. We create a playground in which we ask the artists to improvise on themes, structures, situations, so that they are able to bring in their own quality—their own flavour —and together we create the show.

The artists enter the process almost a year before the premiere. Their contribution is fundamental; creating this way is heavily based on improvisation, on a very perso-nal way of working. I propose concepts, music, stage designs, situations, a theatri-cal framework onto which the artists must improvise to fill this canvas.

Of course, there are choreographed segments and images that are already very clear to me before, but I always expect the artists to go further. It’s a very organic, very creative, and always surprising process, one that allows us to create one entity that is separate from us, an entity that takes us further than something that any of us might have imagined alone.

In creating a show, I’m always looking for a spark. The initial spark of Reversible was the idea of working with walls. Walls that would create confined theatrical spaces and situations, walls that could move and transform and give us interes-ting geometric forms. Walls are also hugely theatrical. Walls are something that we’re all familiar with: walls that confine us, walls that separate us, walls that enclose us, walls that keep us from doing the things that we want to do in our lives. So we created Reversible with walls that represent the exterior and walls that represent the interior. From this, the story was written.

Once I had established this world within which I wanted to create the show, the idea of having these two-sided walls helped me to define the story telling, which very clearly became about who we are on the inside and who we are on the outside. Our reversible selves. Reversible!

Why

Rev

ersi

ble?

Interviewwith

PHILLIP CHBEEB &HOKUTO KONISHI,

Cie AXYZM

MOVEMENT DESIGN COLLABORATORS

How does your own work relate to the work of the 7 Fingers?Phillip: What the 7 Fingers does really well is not only capture the human side of a circus performer but, with a kind of minimalist approach, they strip away all the things that are in excess and actually leave the barebones, personal side of a human’s life. The personal side of very simple set pieces can transform into this huge meaning.

In a similar way, we like to take everyday objects and things that are relatable to people and transform those things into things that are greater, or more interes-ting, than they would be. In that way we found a commonality in just trans-forming minimal things with only eight cast members and three walls, like, “How can you take this and transform it into something beautiful?”

What has struck you during this experience?

Hokuto: Now, especially with the media and the social media and the pace going faster, I feel like the point where [some] give up is a lot quicker. With circus artists of this level, they all have this incredible level of craft and they just have this unders-tanding of, “All right, you have to do it a million times first before you say anything.” If everyone had this mindset, the dance craft would definitely grow. I really would want dancers and people who haven’t really seen circus to see the 7 Fingers show [to see] the marriage of dance and circus, where it’s not just the tricks and acts, but it’s all the in-betweens.

Phillip: The way the circus artists of Rever-sible are willing to delve into our craft just as much as with their own is a really rare thing that we don’t always see in the industry. It was really refreshing to see open artists tackling everything we threw at them.

What are your thoughts on the role of the artists during this creation? Phillip: One of my favourite things about the 7 Fingers’ approach—and it seems like such a unique way of approaching theater and cir-cus—was the amount of attention that they bring to the artists them-selves. I think very often the artist kind of gets hidden behind this enormous production which I think is great sometimes but what you lose is that fact that audience members are people and that they’re watching other people and having a connection. This is something that I think 7 Fingers does extremely well, so when you’re watching one of these performances you’re not just seeing some creature that does something amazing and jumping through, but you’re also seeing yourself in those people. I think it has that extra inspiration for the audience member to be like, “You know what? There’s more I can do with my life and what goes on in my life than I thought.”

Hokuto: The fact that you understand the performers are humans, and just simple things like, “Oh, they’re walking— I can walk! They’re leaning on the wall—I can lean on the wall!” and then when they do the things that are amazing it just enhances it even more because it’s brought the audience down to a human level rather than just going in to see some tricks. Tricks wise all the cast members have something amazing to offer. I love that with the 7 Fingers they’re able to coat that in a very human way.

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3. Natasha started performing professionally when she was nine.

1. To create the characters for Rever-sible, the artists researched their family history for almost a year. Prior to this research, many among them weren’t aware of the dark pasts of

2. Hugo hadn’t ever hung a piece of laundry on a clothesline before this creation.

124. Six of the eight performers graduated the National circus School of Montréal, five of which got their diploma’s 1 month before creation began.

5. All four of the woman in the show created comedy routines based on their grand mother’s true life stories.

6. Julien and Emilie play a married couple on stage and they are married in real life.

© Personal photo archive

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12. The inspiration for the final scene of the show came during a trip of Gypsy’s to her family’s farm in Massachusetts. She was hanging laundry on a clothesline. There wasn’t anyone for miles around her.

7. The aerial scene symbolises determination, resilience, and sisterhood. It tells the story of two women who, at a specific moment during their lives, decided to take a leap to live the way they wanted to live. The choice first caused them incredible loneliness, but proved emancipating and liberating as they opened up to the world and took part in a global movement.

9.There is an act that combines juggling fans and cracking whips with dialog from Ionesco’s Bald Soprano play which originally

11.The carrousel in the juggling scene is a time machine for Natasha. Every room that she visits represents a specific era inspired by the lives of her ances-tors. Through the juggling balls, she is able to delve into different memories.

things about Reversible

8. Julien has performed in several other 7 Fingers shows: Traces, PSY, Amuse and Queen of the night.

10. The completely original soundtrack of Reversible features over 15 of Montreals finest musicians and

DOWNLOADS

• Video Teasers (30sec & 1min40, High Resolution)• Photo Gallery • Original Music• The 7 Fingers Presentation Document

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Production Les 7 Doigts Direction Gypsy SniderAssociate Director Isabelle ChasséMovement Design Collaborators Philip Chbeeb & Hokuto Konichi (AXYZM)

On stage Maria del Mar Reyes, Vincent Jutras, Jérémi Lévesque, Natasha Patterson, Hugo Ragetly, Julien Sillliau, Émilie Sillliau, Emi Vauthey.

Set & Props Ana Cappelluto Lights Yan Lee ChanCostumes Geneviève Bouchard Chinese Pole choreography Shana CarrollChoreographic Assistant Kyra Jean GreenMusic Direction Colin Gagné in collaboration with Sebastien SoldevilaOriginal Music, Sound Design and Music Arrangement Colin Gagné in collaboration with Raphaël Cruz, Ines Talbi, and Dominiq HamelSingers & Musicians Guido Del Fabbro, Alexandre Désilets, Cédric Dind-Lavoie, Dominiq Hamel, Frannie Holder, Ines Talbi, Julie-Blanche Vandenbroucque, Leif Vollebekk, Spike Wilner

Acrobatic Coach Francisco CruzHandstands Coach Olaf TriebelTeeter board Coach André St-Jean

Props master Cloé Alain-Gendreau Project Manager Chloé RondeauStage Manager Sabrina GilbertStage Manager and Tour Manager Julie Brosseau-Doré Technical Director Louis HéonRigging Guillaume Ménard-Crête

Photos (unless otherwise noted) Alexandre Galliez

Original music available BandCamp

Cred

its

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With the support of Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec Conseil des arts de Montréal Conseil des arts du Canada

Coproduction Thomas Lightburn (Vancouver) TOHU (Montréal) Théâtre du Gymnase et Bernardines (Marseille)

Commissioning Partner La Strada (Graz)

THOMASLIGHTBURN

7 artistic directors, 7 visions: The 7 Fingers is a collective that is at once unified and multi-faceted I

In 2002, 7 circus artists came together and became The 7 Fingers I Over the course of 15 years, the collective has grown I Every year, projects have given way to new projects, as diverse as the very artists themselves: original productions, Broadway shows, artistic collaborations, project direction, custom designed events, performances for Olympic ceremonies, televised creations, immersive performance experiences and much more I

Every one of these projects carries The 7 Fingers’ unmistakable mark I Ambas-sadors of diversity, the artists have consistently spread their horizons, mixing genres to better tell their stories I Fascinated by the human condition, The 7 Fingers create performances that speak about our world and our time I Their works reach audiences across nations, with over 500 shows a year I

In 2017, The 7 Fingers will inaugurate their Centre of Creation and Production I Situated in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles in Montreal, the new centre will house all of the company’s activities, departments and dreams under one roof I

TOURING CREATIONSFor the past 15 years, The 7 Fingers have been producing, directing, and touring their original creations.

REPERTORYLe Murmure du coquelicot (2013)Séquence 8 (2012)Amuse, Un Dia (2013)Amuse (2012)PSY (2009)La Vie (2007)Loft (2002)

RÉVERSIBLE

TRIPTYQUE CUISINE & CONFESSIONS TRACES

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Музыка Имре К а льман Либретто Себастьян Солдевилья, Марина Швыдк ая, А лексей Иващенко

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PRINCESS OF CIRCUS BOSCH DREAMS

REPERTORYLe Murmure du coquelicot (2013)Séquence 8 (2012)Amuse, Un Dia (2013)Amuse (2012)PSY (2009)La Vie (2007)Loft (2002)

««»

ARTISTICS COLLABORATIONSDirection, choreography, acrobatic conception, artistic consulting. The 7 Fingers collaborate on numerous projects, bringing a human and inspiring mark of excellence and creativity to each shared endeavor.

PARAMOUR OLYMPIC GAMES

PETER PAN QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

PIPPIN

3 participations in the Olympic Games celebrations (Torino, Vancouver, Sochi)2 invitations to appear on America’s Got Talent (USA)Staging of the circus performance at the Academy Awards Ceremony (USA, 2012)

Awards

Winner of the “Grand Prix du Conseil des Arts de Montréal” (2016)Evolving Circus Award (USA, 2016)Artiste pour la Paix (Artist for Peace) (Canada, 2015)3 Gold Medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (France)2 Drama Desk Awards (USA, 2013)Outer Critics & Off Broadway Alliance (USA, 2013)Named in the Top 10 Plays & Musicals by Time Magazine (USA, 2011)3 ‘Applied Arts Photography’ awards for Psy (2010)Newcomer’s Award at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal for Loft (2002)

14 years of existence6 creators

1 collective1 team, 150 people

7,800 performances480 cities, 35 countries

IN 2016...• Premiere of new touring show Réversible in Montreal.• Staging of the Viennese operetta The Circus Princess in Moscow.• Creation, co-direction and co-production of Bosch Dreams in Denmark.• New visual identity for the collective.• Renovation of the new Creation & Production Centre• The 7 Fingers won the Grand Prix du Conseil des arts of Montreal.• Three-month run of Traces at the Bobino hall in Paris for over 33,000 spectators.• Fibonacci Project residency in Marrakesh, Morocco.• Tours of Triptyque, Patinoire, Traces and Cuisine & Confessions with 350 performances booked.• Performances during the celebration of Canada Day in Ottawa.• Direction of acrobatic creation and choreography of Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour on Broadway.

nassib el-husseinic.e.o.

Political scientist, author (L’Occident Imaginaire, PUQ Editions), advisor and volunteer for dozens of national and international organizations, Nassib fell under the charm of a modern day tribe: The 7 Fingers. He ran away with the circus, as the saying goes, and took on the general direc-tion of this jewel of the Montreal stage. Nassib is currently President of the International Exchange for the Performing Arts (CINARS) and member of the board of the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM).

tina diabtouring, developement and special events director.

After several years in the tourism sector New York City, in addition to extensive experience in communications and in advertising, most notably with agencies in Lebanon and Toronto, Tina was conquered by the unique artistic style of The 7 Fingers. She joined the collective in 2003 and has since been focusing on the development of the company across five continents.

LES 7 DOIGTS DE LA MAIN IS SUPPORTED BY

artistic directionfounders and artistic directors • Shana Carroll, Isabelle Chassé,

Patrick Léonard, Gypsy Snider, Sébastien Soldevila & Samuel Tétreault

artistic director’s assistant • Sabrina Gilbertfirst assistant / artistic directors • Francisco Cruz

touring & developmenttouring and development director • Tina Diab

touring and development coordinator • Claire Thomas

projects manager - partnerships • Joanie Leroux-Côtéprojects manager - special events & projects • Alice Renucci

administrationadministrative director • Richard Gagnon

administrative assistant and public funding • Camille Pilawadata entry clerk • Paulin Kikpade

operationsproject manager • Kevin Bissonnette

tour coordinator • Lou Chartrand

productionproduction director • Luc Paradis

production manager • Chloé Rondeau

technictechnical director • Olivier Rosa

technical coordinator • Karine Lefebvre

communicationcommunication manager • Marion Bellin

communication collaborator and social media • Fanny Perret

Financefinance director • Lynne Ter Metz

accounting supervisor • Sandrine Hubertaccounting technician • Marie-Christine Cyr

Funding campaignfunding campaign director • Danielle Sauvage

c.e.o.Nassib El-Husseini

7Fingers.com225, RUE ROY EST (205) · MONTREAL, QC · H2W 1M5

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