J’aime Hydro

Masters of our own Destiny?

Sent to the front by the theatre company Porte Parole, Christine Beaulieu plays the role of a citizen in a thrilling political soap opera. Documentary theatre that exposes opposing facets of a crucial social issue, J’aime Hydro sets in motion a thorny and passionate discussion: Whatever happened to relations between Hydro-Québec and Quebecers?

With candour and real sincerity, the actress reveals the results of her extensive on-site investigation, from interviews with several citizen groups to visits to power stations and dams and attending public hearings and meetings with senior executives of the government-owned corporation. From single-issue pressure groups to communication coordinators, she gets people with often entrenched positions to talk, convinced of the need to embark on a public discussion about the future of hydroelectric power in Quebec. This theatre of truth plunges directly into the heart of reality, into the belly of the turbine, thanks to a courageous and deeply engaged artist who does not hesitate to dive into important social issues at the very forefront of our society. Urgent.

Produced by Porte Parole + Champ gauche
Written and created by Christine Beaulieu
Dramaturge Annabel Soutar
Directed by Philippe Cyr
Performed by Christine Beaulieu + Mathieu Gosselin
Sound design and performance Mathieu Doyon
Sound landscape and podcast technician Frédéric Auger
Illustrations Mathilde Corbeil
Video design Thomas Payette + Gonzalo Soldi
Lighting design Erwann Bernard
Set design Odile Gamache
Costume design Julie Breton
Assistant director and stage manager Mariflore Véronneau
Sound landscape assistant designer and podcast technician David Blouin

Co-produced by Festival TransAmériques

Premiered at FTA, Montreal, June 6, 2016