LOUIS RIEL

A Comic-Strip Stage Play

Based on the graphic novel by
Chester Brown

Adapted and Directed by
Zach Fraser

Starring :
Henry Beasley
Anne-Marie Saheb
Maddison Schmitt

Technical Director / Lighting Coordinator : Tristynn Duheme
Touring Lighting Design : Jon Cleveland
Based on Original design by Luc Prairie
Touring Set Design : Attila Clemann
Based on original Original Design by Romain Fabre
Sound Design : Tristan Capacchione
Puppet Design : Zach Fraser

October 14th, 2023

70 minutes

Théâtre Lac Brome in Knowlton, QC

The production was originally produced by RustWerk ReFinery in partnership with Infinithéâtre and presented at Théâtre La Chapelle in 2016. In 2017, at the request of la société historique de la Saskatchewan, Zach Fraser created a new 3-performer TYA version of the show. RustWerk commissioned Manon St-Jules to create a new French translation of the show with some dialogue in Plains Cree and ‘Creenglish’ by Blayne McLeod. A new tourable set was built by Attila Clemann and a complete tourable lighting kit was designed by Jon Cleveland. In 2018, we developed our strongest version to date, running at 75-minutes.

A dazzling pageant of two-dimensional puppetry.
— Montreal Gazette

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play is Chester Brown's critically acclaimed and award-winning graphic novel adapted for the stage by Zach Fraser with dynamic and playful two-dimensional puppetry. This gripping historical drama follows Riel, known as "The Father of Manitoba" from the famous Red River Resistance through to the Battle of Batoche and his subsequent trial.

Madman or visionary? Traitor or patriot?

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play is charged with controversy, unflinching in its depiction of our historical forefathers. This epic tale steams through early Canadian history, revealing a rugged and treacherous landscape both in life and politics.

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play is part adventure story, part history lesson, and a completely fascinating theatrical event.

...Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Stage Play is a haunting yet funny look at a man whose life continues to defy lazy hagiography, popping out of our country’s history with colour and passion in the 130 years since he walked to the gallows.
— Sarah Deshaies, Cult Montreal

Other outings include:
- Hudson Village Theatre, Québec
- Batoche National Historic Site, Saskatchewan
- Théâtre Uiviit, Iqaluit, Nunavut
- École Secondaire Louis Riel, Montréal, Québec
- Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival, Brattleboro & Putney, Vermont
- Richmond Hill, Ontario

Actor

Henry Beasley

Henry is a multidisciplinary artist hailing from New Westminster, BC. A recent graduate of the Acting Program at the National Theatre School of Canada, he is also a graduate of Capilano University's Musical Theatre Program. Favourite recent credits include Jacob Mercer in Salt-Water Moon (Rising Tide), Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret (NTS), and Syd in there's nothing you can do (NTS). Cooking is Henry's one true love, but theatre is cool too. This performance is dedicated to Tony.

Actor

Anne-Marie Saheb

A graduate of the Dawson College Professional Theatre Program, Anne-Marie works in both English and French in theatre, film and television. She is French-Canadian - Egyptian and learned Spanish while living in Honduras. She has performed in over 60 productions, was part of Black Theatre Workshop’s Artist Mentorship Program, and is returning for a 2nd year as mentor with Artista. Anne-Marie was most recently seen in Imago Theatre's Foxfinder by Dawn King, directed by Cristina Cugliandro; Hudson Village Theatre's Strawberries In January by Evelyne de la Chenelière, translated by Morwyn Brebner and directed by Dean Fleming; Repercussion Theatre's Shakespeare-In-The-Park production of Measure for Measure, directed by Amanda Kellock; and The Last Wife by Kate Hennig, directed by Eda Holmes, for which Anne-Marie received a 2019 META nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performance.Dian is an award-winning writer, director and creative producer who seeks to open spaces, provide platforms, enrich community-bridge building, and to help others do the same. Recently appointed Artistic Director at Black Theatre Workshop in Montreal, she was previously Associate Artistic Director at Luminato Festival in Toronto, Artistic Director intern at Obsidian Theatre, Artist-in-Residence at Necessary Angel Theatre, Founding Artistic Producer of Cric Crac Collective, and member of the Stratford Festival’s Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Direction. Directing work includes Beloved: A Celebration of Toni Morrison and Black Women Writers (Luminato Festival Toronto), The Mountain Top (Persephone Theatre), Made In Congo (Theatre Row United Solo Festival), Aneemah’s Spot (Cric Crac Collective/Motion Live).

Actor

Maddison Schmitt

Grateful to have grown up in Quw’utsun (Cowichan) unceded territory on what is currently known as Vancouver Island, Maddison now calls Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) home. They are a 2-spirit Red River Métis citizen and interdisciplinary performing artist/theatre creator. Maddison has completed a 3-year Diploma in Musical Theatre as well as a BPA in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Performance Production at Capilano University. They are currently completing a BFA in Performance Creation at Concordia University and as a mature student are blessed to be able to learn from their younger peers. Favourite performance credits include Man #1 in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Presentation House); Ralph in Reefer Madness: the Musical! (Point B); Aaron in Legally Blonde (TUTS); Ensemble in Hello, Dolly!, Will Rogers’ Follies, Oklahoma! (RCMT); Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (bard@brentwood); Angerbird in Ashgirl (Exit 22).

Show Dates and Times

October 14th, 2023 at 7 p.m.

General admission : $31.50 (tax included)

 

Théâtre Lac Brome in Knowlton

9 Chemin du Mont-Écho
Knowlton, QC J0E 1V0

Louis Riel is generously supported by CCA, CALQ, CAM, The Cole Foundation and Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes.

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