Theatre

Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival is here, Jan. 16 to Feb. 11

by Lorraine Carpenter

“It is a privilege to work closely with innovative artists that are creating unconventional theatre — theatre that challenges its audience and explores deeply personal yet worldly ideas and issues.”

The annual Wildside Festival is back after two Januaries in the dark due to pandemic closures across the cultural landscape. From Jan. 16 through Feb. 11, Centaur Theatre’s Wildside will bring cutting edge productions to the stage at Centaur as well as la Chapelle, courtesy of festival curator Rose Plotek.

“With this year’s Wildside offering, I’m pleased to continue to introduce Centaur audiences to bold experimental theatre. This has always been what Wildside is at its core and it allows Centaur to encourage and support theatre creators from a great diversity of backgrounds in our community. It is a privilege to work closely with innovative artists that are creating unconventional theatre; theatre that challenges its audience and explores deeply personal yet worldly ideas and issues. We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with la Chapelle Scène Contemporaine for a fourth consecutive year.” 

—Rose Plotek

Wildside begins with Talisman’s production of Wildfire by David Paquet, which runs at la Chapelle from Jan. 16 to 28. See the complete lineup below.

Wildside Festival 2023

Wildfire

By Talisman Theatre 

Jan. 16–28, 2023 at la Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines

Evenings at 7:30 p.m.,  with additional ASL Performance Sat, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m.

A comedy as fiercely dark as any Greek tragedy.

Proje(c)t; les Bonnes

By Troisième Espace Théâtre 

Jan. 26–29

Jan. 26–28 at 7:30 p.m.,  Jan. 28–29 at 3 p.m. at Centaur Theatre

A trilingual adaptation (English, French and Spanish) of the play Les bonnes by Jean Genet. 

Theatre for One Screenings

Feb. 1 & 2, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at Centaur Theatre

A collection of short films featuring monologues, exploring the difference between the screen and the stage. 

Planting an Apple Tree 

By the Bakery 

Feb. 8–11 at 7:30 p.m. at Centaur Theatre

A new Ukrainian work surrounding a woman and her relationship to her land, written as an immediate response to the invasion of Ukraine. 

Confabulation: Me, My Selfie and I

Feb. 11 at 9 PM Centaur Theatre

A storytelling showcase featuring raw, honest anecdotes from the people that lived them. 

Music Series 

Vice Versa 

(Proje(c)t; les bonnes post show)

Jan. 27–28 at Centaur Theatre

A free bilingual music series celebrating English songs originally written in French. 

Resistance Pop and fundraiser

Feb. 10 at Centaur Theatre

Come together and bear witness to 2022 Ukrainian resistance songs translated into English for the first time. (Planting an Apple Tree post-show)

For more on the Wildside Festival, please visit the Centaur Theatre website.

For more in Montreal theatre, please visit the Arts & Life section.

Posted in Theatre

by Lorraine Carpenter

Editor in chief
Lorraine Carpenter was born in Montreal and studied communications and journalism at Concordia. She co-founded Cult MTL in 2012 following 12 years at the now-defunct Montreal alt weekly the Mirror, where she worked in editorial as copy editor and music editor. She’s dedicated to supporting the cultural scene in Montreal.