-Marguerite Duplessis
In 1740, here in Quebec, the trial of Marguerite Duplessis took place.
Duplessis, a young Indigenous woman, started a trial to claim her freedom. Bought to be sold, she was set to be embarked immediately on a merchant ship bound for Martinique. This was the first time in the history of New France that a Native person took legal action. It was also the first time that a person who had been enslaved tried to have her right to freedom recognized. Inevitably, Marguerite lost her case and was taken to Martinique. What happened to her afterwards is unknown.
It is Marguerite’s fire that inspired this show. It is the same fire that burns in all the Marguerites, those of yesterday and today, who fight for the recognition of justice. It is the fire of regeneration and recovered memory.
Marguerite: le feu is the stage version of a triad project that takes three forms. The show is accompanied by a podcast series entitled Marguerite : la traversée and a sound journey in the places of memory, Marguerite : la pierre.
BOOKINGVictor Leclère | La magnanerie / MAG.I.C.+33 1 43 36 37 12 – victor@magnanerie-spectacle.com
Text, direction, interpretation Émilie Monnet Performers Anna Beaupré Moulounda, Catherine Dagenais-Savard, Sharon James Text Émilie Monnet Dramaturgy Marilou Craft Stage direction Émilie Monnet, Angélique Willkie Staging collaboration Mélanie Demers Music Laura Ortman, Frédéric Auger Set design Max-Otto Fauteux Lighting Julie Basse Video Caroline Monnet Sound Frédéric Auger Émilie’s song arrangements Dominique Fils-Aimé Pow wow song Black Bear Singers Costumes Korina Emmerich, Yso Assistant director Érika Maheu-Chapman Voice Dominique Cyrille Video Integrator Dominique Hawry Sound Manager Frédéric Auger Video Manager Marie-Frédérique Gravel Technical Director Romane Bocquet Surtitles Elaine Normandeau Tour Manager and Surtitles Manager Élise di Pierro Production Dominique Sarrazin Administration Dumont St-Pierre Communications Jean-Matthieu Barraud
Marguerite : le feu is a creation of Onishka Productions in co-production with ESPACE GO
photo credit Pascal Gely / Hans Lucas
Contribution to the creation Aïcha Bastien N’diaye, Marie-Madeleine Sarr, Letícia Tórgo, Soleil Launière, Tatiana Zinga Botao
March 15 to April 2, 2022 at ESPACE GO, Montreal
May 19 to 21, 2022 at Théâtre le Diamant, Quebec City
July 7 to 11, 2023 at Festival d’Avignon (France)
June 12-13, 2025, at National Arts Centre, Ottawa
Upcoming international shows tba (2024-2025)
UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL SHOWS TBA
The Marguerite project was developed with the support of the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund. The creation was also supported by the Cole Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.
Marguerite: le feu is a coproduction of Espace Go.
This show was supported by the Territoire / Création program (Théâtre de la Ville, Théâtre du Bic, Théâtre Hector-Charland) and by CEAD’s Émergence théâtrale autochtone in partnership with the Cole Foundation.
This show benefited from residencies at Théâtre Le Diamant, Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui, National Theatre School of Canada and Salon 58.
