Province – October 7-17, The Centaur Theatre LiveEvents October 4, 2015 4909 Talisman Theatre and The Other Theatre Present Province Two notable Montreal indie companies collaborate in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. Province is a darkly humorous and imaginative fable, steeped in rich rural textures. A gallery of colorful characters faces off against the animals in their area, mutant animals that are and suddenly rebellious and determined to destroy their human masters. Written by Mathieu Gosselin Translated by Nadine Desrochers Directed by Stacey Christodoulou Province takes the audience on a wild ride, full of potent questions and uneasy answers. Set in the deep forest of Quebec, this darkly comic play is part of a rich tradition of dystopian art, exploring humanity’s indifference to environmental destruction and our commitment to individualism at any cost. A poetic, whimsical fable, steeped in organic rural textures, Province revolves around a gallery of colourful characters who must face off against mutant animals—suddenly rebellious and determined to destroy their human masters. Despite the ecological malaise, the people of Province continue their pre-apocalypse lives with as much gusto as before, playing Wii, making home videos, obsessing over their looks and material possessions. Will they react before it is too late or will they be swallowed up by the ever-encroaching greenery of the Province? “The forest’s advance, the animals’ unnatural frenzy, that horrific vision. I’m starting to connect the dots and the big picture is dreadful.”–Hide “Among the murmur of the thistle and nettle, you can hear the dribble of drool over fangs. Eyes closed, you can almost see the manufactured and mutant shapes of the unseen.”–Buddy Province explores humanity’s indifference to environmental destruction and its commitment to individualism at any cost. It asks whether our adaptability—our greatest human strength—may actually be what is holding us back from finding common sense solutions to our generation’s most pressing problem. Province fits perfectly into the aesthetic niche created by our past productions. Province is written by Mathieu Gosselin, a Quebecois playwright/actor in his early thirties. Province, was first staged by Théâtre de la Banquette Arrière at La Licorne in May 2012. This play has never been produced in English! Talisman’s 2015 production will be Canada’s English-language premiere of this remarkable work. It’s getting warmer; you can smell the fear in the air. Nature is running amok. Climate change or a much darker, transfiguring force. The Centaur Theatre 453 St. François-Xavier For tickets and information: www.centaurtheatre.com 514-288-3161 About Talisman Theatre Talisman Theatre produces English-language premières of contemporary Québécois works, bringing the visceral intensity of Québécois theatrical practice to non-Francophones. www.talisman-theatre.com
