A production by Théâtre Incliné (2023)
SEUILS is a reverie.
Let’s look together at that building across the street. In each window a human who looks like us… what if we had fun guessing their lives, for the duration of our sleepless night.
More infos
“Imagine that
all that happens that we don’t know about and yet contributes to that rumbling, to that murmur of the universe.” 1
We watch them through the walls. They play out their lives, their doubts and their burning desires. All on the threshold of something. “They are people. Probably. Without a doubt. Yes. People… It looks like it. Well, I think so.” 2
These are lives placed against one another, but the walls and stories intermingle while waiting for the coming dawn. It’s about people, observing other people. It’s about a time in suspended breath and hands that touch. Seuils is a tender look at a motley humanity on the threshold of blossoming into life.
“I’m going to explode like an orchid I’m sinking He knows He feels When I see his golden torso illuminate the whole street… I am rotting with tenderness!” 3
The sun rises “it’s blue” 1
1 (Text by Marie-Hélène Larose-Truchon) 2 (Text by Marie-Louise Bibish Mumbu) 3 (Text by Julie Vincent)
Team
Direction and scriptwriting: José Babin
From the texts, characters and images of Marie-Louise Bibish Mumbu,
Julie Vincent, and Marie-Hélène Larose-Truchon.
Translated by Alexis Diamond
Choreography: Karine Ledoyen and José Babin in collaboration with the performers
Repeater: Emmanuelle Bourassa Beaudoin
Dramaturgy Advisor: Josianne Dulong-Savignac and Sophie Devirieux
Puppet Design and Conception: Sophie Deslauriers
Puppet making assistant: Céline Chevrier
Puppet prototypes: Alain Lavallée et José Babin
Set: Carol-Anne Bourgon Sicard
Costumes: Manon Guiraud
Music: Guido Del Fabbro
Lighting and staging assistance: Alain Lavallée
Performers: Patrick Lamothe, Élinor Fueter, Julie Desrosiers, Guillaume Lajeunesse
Stage manager: Charly Mullot
Technical direction: Alain Lavallée
Video achievements: Patrick Péris
Administration: Cassandre Lescarbeau
Photos © Geneviève Therrien
Teen voices: Special participation of groups 28 (grade 8) and group 50 (grade 11) from St-Gabriel school in Ste-Thérèse, under the supervision of their teacher Bryan Morneau.
Co-production Théâtre Incliné and Théâtre la Petite Marée (2019)
LoveStar, a scientist passionate about birds, dreams of saving the world, but her ideas are perverted by her insatiable assistant Ragnar.
In this wild dystopia, two young lovers will fight against the absurdity of a system that has lost all humanity.
Visual theatre without words.
Target audience: all audiences ages 8 and up.
More infos
For the final work in the cycle on the North, director José Babin wanted to draw inspiration from the novel LoveStar by Icelandic author Andri Snær Magnason. After formal research on the scenic space that she carries out with Alain Lavallée, she invites Jacques Laroche to adapt the novel. José then translates this adaptation into a stage language where actors, video, music and puppets respond to one another… without words.
Team
Novel Author: Andri Snær Magnason
Adaptation of the Novel: Jacques Laroche
Director: José Babin
Assistant Director: Lucile Prosper
Performers: Bryan Morneau and José Babin
Scenic Design: José Babin and Alain Lavallée
Video and Set Design: Alain Lavallée
Music: Guido Del Fabbro
Puppets and Props: Magali Chouinard
Costumes: Linda Brunelle
Lighting: Cyril Bussy
Singing Voice: Flora Fellinger
Speaking Voice: Raphaëlle Dubé
Table Construction: Guy Fortin
Puppet Design and Molding: Sophie Deslauriers
Cut and Costume Design: Anne Rémillard
Headdress Design: Lyne Beaulieu
Photos © Lucille Prosper, José Babin, Alain Lavallée
Coproduction Théâtre Incliné et Nordland Visual Theatre (2016)
First show in the Nordic cycle, Nordicité is a quest in the form of a love metaphor. Through an intimate testimony, a nomadic artist reveals to us her encounter with the north and her vertigo in the face of this immensity that she could not capture. A visual poem where video projection, objects, music, theatre and dance intertwine, it is an invitation to journey between myths and realities and a reflection on our capacity to understand the voices of the north.
Team
Dramaturg: Pascal Brullemans
Translator: Mathilde Perallat
Artistic counsellor (Quebec): Francine Alepin
Cast: Mélanie Chouinard, Bryan Morneau and José Babin
Puppets, costumes and stage director assistant: Émilie Racine
Lights: Alexandra Dugal
Seamstress: Charline Guay
Set building: Atelier 303 and Alain Lavallée
Artistic counsellor (Norway): Bente Andersen
Scientific counsellor: Daria Schwalbe (Denmark)
Production director: Cynthia Bouchard-Gosselin and Alain Lavallée
Stage managers: Patrice Daigneault and Vincent Santes
Photos: Geneviève Therrien
The show is freely inspired from expeditions in the northern territories, from human encounters, from Kalle Nio’s videos and from bits of short stories written by circumpolar authors:
Greenland: Pipaluk Lykke Løgstrup – Sweden: Rasmus Lindberg – Iceland: Kári Tulinius – Norway: Tale Næss Lysestøl – Finland: Maria Peura – Canada: Lucy Tulugarjuk – Russia: Alexander Seryakov – Alaska: Sean Asiqluq Topkok.
We wish to thank our partners the Cole Foundation and W.J. Jones.
Special thanks to Preben Faye-Schjøll, Geir-Ove Andersen, Jan Erik Skarby.
A co-production of THÉÂTRE INCLINÉ, CASTELIERS (Quebec)
and WORLD PUPPET THEATRE FESTIVAL (France) (2015)
January 2010, Pierre-Yves froze his father. Through the car carcasses that now invade the drive-in theatre of his childhood, the son settles accounts with the shadow of his old cowboy father whom he both venerated and hated. Time freezes… Until an angel crashes onto the lamppost of the broken screen. A show where shadows and video accompany the ballet.
The show takes the audience into a fascinating universe that explores the mental spaces of a man adrift. The themes addressed are the inability to open up to others, a son’s love-hate relationship with his father, revolt and tenderness.
Team
Text by Daniel Danis over images by Alain Lavallée and José Babin
Artistic collaboration: Fabrizio Montecchi
Performance: Denys Lefebvre and Alain Lavallée
Music: Guido Del Fabbro
Shadow artist: Alain Lavallée
Video images: Martin Laroche
Set design: Loïc Lacroix Hoy
Model design: Guy Fortin
Costume and props: Valérie Gagnon Hamel
Lighting design and lighting control: Andréanne Deschênes
Sound control and video manipulation: Samuel Thériault
Voiceover: Paul Dion, Denys Lefebvre and José Babin
Singing voice: Safia Nolin
Family films: Thanks to Xavier Millot, Gabryel Constant-Tardifand Brigitte Chartier for their participation.
Photos: Caroline Laberge
A creation by Théâtre Incliné (2012)
THREADS proposes a fragmented dramaturgy. The tale of the Mountain-Woman is the base layer that is multiplied by the narration it inspires, but also by impressions, sensations, images that border on the unconscious and collective memory.
This scenic writing draws inspiration from Greek mythologies such as the Fates who weave the thread of life, but also from Indigenous mythologies in the relationship to the Earth.
Indeed, the author wanted to weave a double story whose words constantly parallel the Earth and Woman; both suffering the same outrages.
Team
Written and directed by José Babin,
Based on “The Tale of the Mountain Woman” by Francine Alepin, Nadine Walsh, and José Babin.
With: Nadine Walsh, José Babin, and Guido Del Fabbro on violin.
Creative Partner: Nadine Walsh
Directorial Assistant: Karina Bleau and Karine Sauvé
Dramaturgy Partner: Francine Alepin
Original Music: Guido Del Fabbro
Puppets and Costumes: Leigh Gillam
Set Design: Guy Fortin
Lighting and Production Management: Alain Lavallée
Seamstress: Charlotte Veillette
Stage Manager and Lighting Assistant: Geneviève Gagnon
Voices: Élizabeth Chouvalidzé, José Babin, and Nadine Walsh
Photos: Caroline Laberge
A huge thank you to Solfany Amanis, Kulwant, Saadia Faiz, Kader Alan, Sona Aghbashya, Hilda S., Geralda Leon, Sharifa Bagum, Kadijah, and Syldalin, who lent us their female voices in all languages.
Japan-Quebec Co-production – Kio Company and Théâtre Incliné (2009)
This poetic show presents itself as a theatre of images. A few pages of text in French and Japanese punctuate the rhythm and give voice to little Haku who tells the story like haikus, providing keys or opening doors to the proposed imaginary world. The form combines actors, puppets, shadow theatre and live music (traditional Japanese instruments, harp and voice).
Team
Script: José Babin
Direction: José Babin in collaboration with Kohey Nakadachi
Translation: Minoru Tsunoda
With: Nobuya Shimamoto, José Babin, Noriyuki Yasuda, Yuki Isami and Alain Lavallée
Musicians: Yuki Isami: koto and traditional Japanese flute;
Noriyuki Yasuda: taikos, flute and traditional Japanese instruments
Assistant Director: Nadine Walsh
Video: Yann Becker and Gamon Nyoze
Stage Management: Julien Laflamme and Yann Becker
Lighting and Shadow Designer: Alain Lavallée
Puppets: José Babin and Alain Lavallée
Set and Costume Designer: Yuko Nishida
Set Construction: Jean-René Trudel
Set Finishing: Jacinthe Duchesneau
Music: Fumiko Hayashi, Noriyuki Yasuda, Ayano Nishikawa (cello/soundtrack)
Recorded Voices: Théo Vincent Cirrito (Haku), Fumiko Hayashi, Noriyuki Yasuda
Intern: Akiko Kodama
Administration: Georgine Vaillant and Korin Sakura
Communications: Julie Doneda
Graphic Designer: Alain Lavallée
Photos © Yann Becker et Michel Pinault
A creation by Théâtre Incliné and Théâtre populaire d’Acadie, co-produced with Marionnettissimo and L’Usine, a designated venue dedicated to street arts (France). (2008)
On the edge of a cliff, three quirky dead cling to their graves in the midst of a storm. When the offshore wind calms, one of their own has disappeared. Marguerite’s bones have fallen into the sea. The coast is receding… Like an inexorable game, the dead tell each other their secrets, small cruel tales of coastal people where humor, poetry and tragedy coexist.
The show presents itself in a resolutely visual form, where scenography, contemporary shadows and music are of paramount importance.
Created in residency at TPA (New Brunswick), L’USINE (France) and Usine C (Quebec).
Team
Text and Direction: José Babin
Freely inspired by maritime short stories by Maurice Arsenault, José Babin, Albert Belzile, Brigitte Harrison, Alain Lavallée, and Christiane St-Pierre.
With: José Babin, Julie Duguay, Alain Lavallée, Claire Normand and Benjamin Proulx-Mathers on live sound
Assistant Director: Nadine Walsh
Set Design: Morgan Nicolas (scenic sculptures), Luc Rondeau (backdrops)
Costumes: Luc Rondeau
Puppets: Alain Lavallée
Music and Sound Effects: Nicolas Letarte
Lighting and Shadows: Alain Lavallée
Masks: Claude Rodrigue
Sewing: Aline Robichaud
Wigs: Liette Lanteigne
Musical Research: Shaun Ferguson
Production Management: Conrad St-Gelais (Acadie), Camile Lanas (France)
Photos: Robert Etcheverry
A creation by Théâtre Incliné (2006)
Team
Text by Larry Tremblay
Direction by José Babin
Performers: Karine Gagnon, Alain Lavallée, Nicolas Letarte and Pierre Limoges
Puppets & Shadow Theatre: Alain Lavallée
Set Design & Lighting: Éric Belley
Music: Nicolas Letarte
Costumes: Thaly Savard
Assistant Director: Marie-France Goulet
Puppet Finishing and Patina: Mélanie Charest
Scenography Intern: Chloé Beaulé-Poitras
Stage Management: Éric Belley
Acknowledgments: Daniel Butcher – Joël Chabot – Nathalie-Paule Dumas – François Landreville – Louise Lapointe – Pierre Potvin – Marie-Pierre Simard – Isabelle Veilleux – Liette Gauthier and the audiences at Maison de culture Ahuntsic – Centre Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption.
France-Quebec Co-production (2004)
Le Clan des Songes (France) – Ranch-O-Banjo (Quebec) – Théâtre Incliné (Quebec)
ManiganSes (Quebec) and Marionnettissimo (International Puppetry Arts Festivals, France)
Team
Show Concept and Image Creation: José Babin, Martin Bélanger, Frédéric Lebrasseur and Marina Montefusco
Image Scenario and Production Direction: José Babin
Puppet Design and Creation: Marina Montefusco
Music Composition: Martin Bélanger and Frédéric Lebrasseur
Puppet Creation Assistance: Céline Burgan and Nathalie Godart
Lighting Design and Implementation: Sylvain Letendre (Quebec) and Erwan Costadau (France)
Set Construction: Jean-Louis Sagot (France) and Christian Fontaine (Quebec)
Costumes: Soukinim’atelier (France) and Thaly Savard (Quebec)
Administration: Camille Lano (France) and Michel Vallières (Quebec)
Production Assistant and Shadow Consultant: Alain Lavallée
Rehearsal Assistance: Isabelle Veilleux and Michel Vallières
Outside Eye: Michel Vallières
Poster Design: Fil et Julie
Thanks to: Jean Kaplan, Louise Lapointe, Christian Denat and the entire team at Théâtrerie de Muret, Laurence Belet, Blandine Rozé, Pierre Robitaille, Bastiano e la Liva, Cirque du Soleil, Agnès Zacharie, Maurice Babin, Pupulus Mordicus, Théâtre Denise Pelletier, Gérald Duguay, Zoé Laporte, Ani Frenette, Alain Faubert, Éric Belley, Chloé Beaulé-Poitras.
OTHER PROJECTS
Lovestarium is a multimodal platform (a fancy word that means: with sounds, video and texts!). It was created based on the themes of LoveStar, a wordless theater piece for actors, puppets, shadow and video that explores environment, ethics and love.
On the platform, in addition to introducing you to this futuristic piece and giving you access to exclusive content, you will be invited to participate as an artist, philosopher, eco-citizen or even scientist.
Nordicité, walking on the circle is a vast five-year creative project (2015-2019) that brings together expeditions to different northern territories, the creation of shows, short films as well as the deployment of this digital platform.
Through its multiple works ranging from the intimate to fiction, this cycle unites artists from the 8 countries that touch the Arctic Circle.
We invite you to follow in the footsteps of the Théâtre Incliné artistic team all around the polar circle. By diving into the heart of this visual and sonic immersion, you will discover artistic expeditions, a creative adventure and human and geographical encounters.
Welcome aboard!