IMAGO’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SHOW, EVER!

Her side of the story

Ce qu’elle en dit

Erin Shield’s If We Were Birds, directed by Micheline Chevrier closed at the Centaur Theatre in October 2013 after 13 moving performances. Amelia Sargisson, Lauryn Allman, Nico Racicot and Chip Chuipka brought the lead characters of this classic tale to life with chilling humanity. The chorus, performed by Deena Aziz, Stefanie Buxton, Shiong-En Chan, Warona Setshwaelo and Clare Schapiro, was breathtaking in its bird-like movement and transported the audience from ancient Greece to the 20th century conflicts that inspired If We Were Birds. Beautiful set, costumes, sound and light enlivened this important story for the Montreal community. Our nightly talk-backs were well attended (between 30 and 60 people each night) and conversations about the delicate themes of the play were handled by our public with intelligent sensitivity. It was especially wonderful to hear about youth in their 20s returning three and four times to see the show. We are pleased that If We Were Birds touched so many hearts and thank everyone for making the show a success.

COMING UP… We have more engaging, politically relevant theatre coming your way: The Peace Maker is the story of Sophie, a young Canadian Jewish woman, who travels to Israel and Palestine. We watch her struggle to understand this complex conflict through her friendships with both an Israeli soldier and a young Palestinian girl, as well as her attempts to heal the rift between the two people through the power of music. Playwright Natasha Greenblatt assistant directed If We Were Birds and is coming back to Imago to develop The Peace Maker during a collaborative workshop with Playwrights Workshop Montreal. (http://www.playwrights.ca).

A few words from the playwright: I started writing The Peace Maker in 2009 after spending three months in Israel and Palestine. I'd gone on Birthright, a free trip for all Jews in the Diaspora under the age of 27, and volunteered as a Drama Teacher in the West Bank. I'd met many people that surprised me, seen many things that devastated me. I'd laughed and cried and played a lot of theatre games. After my return from the Middle East I was left with many questions. Questions about the difference between peace and justice, questions about the effectiveness of NGO’s, questions about identity. And I’m still asking these questions. I am so excited to workshop The Peace Maker with Micheline Chevrier and Imago Theatre, to continue this investigation, to go deeper, to keep digging.

The Peace Maker workshop will take place over the course of a week and will culminate in a public reading in February. Stay tuned for more news.

If We Were Birds Reviews

This is a must, must see. A story that everyone can learn from. - Curtains UP

If We Were Birds was truly rewarding. The brilliance of the aesthetic experience –the lights, sounds and

set—was matched perfectly with the beauty and horror of the story it told. – The Link

If We Were Birds brings humanity into inhumane behavior and makes us understand the desire to fly

away when faced with such brutality. – The Concordian

[If We Were Birds] leaves you feeling stunned and emotionally drained. It is one of the best productions

I’ve seen in years. – Curtains UP

La mise en scène de Micheline Chevrier est fluide et met le texte en valeur. Sa direction d’acteurs

magnifie les personages. – Le Voir

The whole cast dazzles in this intense and disturbing production. – Bloody Underrated

The look of the piece is stylish and its execution admirable. – The Gazette

Contact Us Imago Theatre

5143 St. Laurent

Montreal, QC, H2T 1R9

(514) 274 - 3222

info@imagotheatre.ca

www.imagotheatre.ca

http://imagotheatre.ca/en/sponsorship/donations

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support. We welcome your seasonal generosity to fulfill our potential and bring more fearless theatre to the

Montreal community. Thank you and Happy Holidays!