Six sensational shows at FTA 2017
On Wednesday, February 1st, FTA artistic director Martin Faucher unveiled six shows in this year’s lineup. All indications are that this 11th edition of the Festival TransAmériques, from May 25 to June 8, 2017, will once again prove to be a juggernaut on the Montreal cultural scene.
In addition to the presentation of 100 % Montreal by the Berlin collective Rimini Protokoll (as announced in December) are five major works by renowned directors and choreographers: the world première of Some Hope for the Bastards by Frédérick Gravel, the unexpected return of La fureur de ce que je pense by Marie Brassard (based on the novels of Nelly Arcan), the first visit to North America by the great Polish director Krystian Lupa with Wycinka Holzfällen (Thomas Bernhard’s Woodcutters), an astounding young dance sensation who has reinvented flamenco, Rocío Molina in Caída del cielo, and an exceptional performance of Le super méga continental by Sylvain Émard featuring 375 dancers. No doubt about it: dance and theatre at the FTA are indeed a passionate adventure.
Stunning, Visceral, Intuitive
With his dance performances and their rock’n roll ambience, Frédérick Gravel is one of the most popular Quebec artists on the international scene, and he now has a stage equal to his talent, the magnificent Salle Ludger-Duvernay at the Monument-National. His new piece Some Hope for the Bastards features a dozen dancers, musicians and programmers as well as music by Philippe Brault.
Sublime, Sorrowful, Essential
Created at ESPACE GO in 2013, La fureur de ce que je pense made a profound impression that theatre season. Based on an original idea by Sophie Cadieux, Marie Brassard has orchestrated a troubling look at the life and writings of Nelly Arcan. In a unique reworking of her novels Whore, Folle and Burqa of Skin, her ode probes the unfathomable power of the female. Overdue turbulence presented at Usine C.
Caustic, Merciless, Dazzling
No audiences in North America have yet seen the unique work of the leading figure of Polish theatre Krystian Lupa, age 73. A master and an inspiration for two generations of directors in Central Europe, including Krzysztof Warlikowski, he will arrive in Montreal with the 4.5-hour masterpiece Wycinka Holzfällen (Woodcutters), based on the novel by Thomas Bernhard.
Untamed, Powerful, Virtuoso
An outstanding dancer and performer, the 33-year-old Rocío Molina is conquering world stages as a new star of flamenco who masters tradition while taking it to new heights. In New York in 2008 the great Mikhaïl Baryshnikov knelt before her in unabashed admiration, contributing to her reputation as a prodigy. Breathless and exhausted, bathed in dirt and blood, the she-devil holds her own against flamenco in Caída del cielo. A true marvel.
Surprising, Vibrant, Exhilarating
Make way for Montrealers in 100 % Montreal, the opening performance of the 11th edition, where 100 citizens step onstage to present an astonishing collective X-ray, incarnating 100% of public opinion regarding Montreal. A vibrant, rousing exercise in self-portrayal!
And the fun continues… into September!
Exceptionally for Montreal’s 375th anniversary celebrations, the Festival will not come to a full close in June. In September it will co-present with Sylvain Émard Danse Le super méga continental at Place des Festivals. After performing to very enthusiastic crowds in nine big cities around the world, this dynamic event (originally created in 2009 at the FTA) is coming back home! 375 citizens of all ages and from many different neighbourhoods and backgrounds will get together to dance in unison a continental line dance with a very modern touch.
Hundreds of amateur dancers are being sought for this show, with auditions taking place for candidates previously registered on our website on February 28 and March 1 and 2 at Circuit-Est centre chorégraphique.
Individual tickets on sale now
Ticket packages on sale starting March 21, 2017
Individual tickets for these shows go on sale today online, by phone, through La Vitrine culture hub, or directly at the box offices of the performance venues. Ticket packages for 4, 8 and 12 shows will go on sale when the full FTA program is revealed on March 21, 2017.
