Imago Théâtre

Imago Theatre is a professional feminist theatre company based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The company was founded in 1987 by Andres Hausmann, Ray Tomalty, and Kelly Patterson[1], and is now led by the current Artistic and Executive Director, Krista Jackson.

Imago centres intersectional feminist values through mentorships, artists programs and productions. Their work is a catalyst for conversation as we advocate for gender inclusive storytelling, empower diverse voices, foster community and increase accessibility in live performing arts.

History

In the early days, under the leadership of Andres Haussman, Imago presented intricately intense international works and electrically experimental yet socially significant bilingual collective creations. The artistry and interactions of both languages were the foundation of the collaboration between Francophone and Anglophone artists, and a reflection of the complex relationship between Montreal’s two solitudes.[2]

In the year 2000, Clare Schapiro took over as Artistic Director. With Schapiro, Imago's programming shifted focus to presenting Canadian and Quebecois playwrights, and stories centered around women’s lived experiences.[3]

In 2013, Micheline Chevrier became Artistic and Executive Director of Imago.[4] Under Chevrier’s leadership, Imago officially became a feminist and artist-run theatre company. Its work examined questions about human nature, climate change, politics, power dynamics, and the treatment of women and marginalized groups in our society.

In 2022 the company announced the appointment of Krista Jackson as the new Artistic and Executive Director.[5] She brought with her a national body of work in new play development and institutional knowledge from leadership positions at theatres across the country, including The Grand Theatre where she served as Apprentice Artistic Director and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre where she served as Associate Artistic Director/Director of New Play Development. She is founding artistic director of zone41 theatre in Winnipeg.[6]

Under her leadership Imago continues to embrace a unique collaborative working model, Canadian and Quebecois content, equitable representation (gender, race, ability), strong presence in terms of support for both emerging and established artists, and outreach extending beyond the provincial border to promote the work of Quebecois artists.[7]

Programming

Imago Theatre's work is committed to pushing boundaries, expanding form, and engaging in essential dialogue about urgent social issues. The company centres on inclusive feminist values, perspectives, and artistic practices within diverse stories, voices, and experiences.

The company's core values are reflected through productions, festivals and readings; the ARTISTA free mentorship program for to women, non-binary, trans and gender-diverse creators ; artistic residencies; post-show talkbacks; socially engaged community outreach and events; workshop series; and the Pay-What-You-Decide initiative.

Imago Theatre’s audience demographic is almost entirely younger generations ranging from 20-35 years old. In an interview with The Concordian, Artistic Director Krista Jackson says, “This idea that we’re speaking to a young demographic that wants to go and see a live performance is unbelievable to me because most theatres around the country are saying, ‘How do we get the young people? Everybody’s so old.’ It’s the plays and it’s the topics discussed.”[8]

Productions

Imago has presented a varied repertory, early years of the company saw interpretations of plays by Samuel Beckett (The Shorter Plays and Conversation), Harold Pinter (Other Plays and Pinteriana), Milan Kundera (Jacques and His Master), Heiner Müller (Quartet) and a magnificent collective creation about the invention of the atomic bomb, Incandescent (which played in both French and English).[9]

Imago presents their productions at a variety of Montreal performing arts spaces, including Centaur Theatre, The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, Bain Mathieu, Theatre La Chappelle, Espace Go and the Monument-National’s Studio Hydro-Québec.[10]

Notable Productions

Ana, By Clare Duffy (Scotland) and Pierre Yves Lemieux (Québec) Winter 2011 in Montreal, at Espace GO, Spring 2012, Scotland Tour (a co-production with Stellar Quines, Edinburgh).[11]

If We Were Birds, by Erin Shields directed by Micheline Chevrier. Fall 2013, at Centaur Theatre.[12]

Intractable Woman, by Stefano Massini translated by Paula Wing, directed by Micheline Chevrier. Winter 2017, at Centaur Theatre.[13]

Other People’s Children, by Hannah Moscovitch directed by Micheline Chevrier and  Amanda Goldberg (Assistant Director). Fall 2018, at the Centaur Theatre.[14]  

Persephone Bound, Created by Léda Davies and Jed Tomlinson. Additional text by Michaela Jeffery. A co-presentation with Geordie Theatre and Screaming Goats Collective, Fall 2019, at the DB Clarke Theatre.[15]

The Tropic Of X, By Caridad Svich directed by Sophie Gee and Alessandra Tom (Assistant Director) Winter 2020, at the Centaur Theatre.[16]

Okinum by Émilie Monnet, co-directed by Émilie Monnet and Emma Tibaldo. Co-production with Onishka at Centaur Theatre as a part of Brave New Looks 2021.[17]

Eco-Anxiety, a Digital Festival that featured four short plays written by award-winning international playwrights. Presented as part of Climate Change Action Theatre, a biennial festival that coincides with the United Nations COP meetings.

Tuning In, a commissioned series of three new, short audio plays penned by women playwrights from across Canada. Plays included: Lâche pas la patate by Yvette Nolan, The Ringtone by Audrey Dwyer, Scout’s Honour by Amy Lee Lavoie. Broadcast live from Montréal, Arts Interculturels.

Foxfinder, by Dawn King directed by Cristina Cugliandro. Presented at Montreal, arts interculturels. Fall 2022.[18]

Redbone Coonhound by Amy Lee Lavoie And Omari Newton directed by Micheline Chevrier and Kwaku Okyere. An Imago Theatre and Tarragon Theatre Co-Production. Winter 2023 at Théâtre Denise-Pelletier.[19]

The Flood by Leah-Simone Bowen directed By Yvette Nolan. Presented at Centaur Theatre in February 2024.[20]

Space Girl, the filmed version of the world premiere of Indigenous playwright Frances Koncan’s newest play directed by Krista Jackson (Ice River Films/Prairie Theatre Exchange).

Upside Down, a series of narrative and documentary short films that explore disability and accessibility in digital theatre.

The Wolves, by Sarah DeLappe co-directed by Krista Jackson and Jimmy Blais (co-production with Geordie Theatre), presented at Segal Centre Studio, November 2024.

ARTISTA

ARTISTA is a mentorship program for women, gender-diverse, trans, and non-binary people, ages 17-22. It seeks to achieve collective empowerment through theatrical experimentation.

The goal of the program is to encourage participants to develop self confidence, artistic vocabulary, and gain a sense of community.They receive mentorship from professional artists (both local and national).[21]

The Creators Circle

The Creator’s Circle brings together playwrights based in Montreal and nationally to workshop their plays in development and create a community space for artistic exchange. The plays and artists selected centralize questions of gender, while engaging in radical creation practices.[22]

Nested circles

Nested Circles is an artist residency program curated by Lindsay Lachance that pairs Newcomer Artists with Practicing Artists with the intention of the pair sharing and working on their individual projects with support from one another. The residency provides a cultural network as well as artistic resources to Newcomers who have moved to Montreal from a different country.[23]

Accessibility

Imago Theatre operates on a Pay-What-You-Decide philosophy that is aligned with their belief that theatre should be accessible to all. The company seeks to democratize access to theatre by eliminating financial barriers that might keep people and communities from engaging with art. Imago is also committed to producing work in spaces that are physically accessible, ensuring the buildings are equipped with elevators and ramps.

Imago has produced digital productions for blind and visually impaired audiences. In 2022 Imago began including French Language subtitles at every performance to connect with Francophone audiences in the city, and in 2024 the company began including a Relaxed Performance in their runs to welcome audiences with various access needs. Imago offers a mask mandatory performance during the run of their productions.[24]

References

  1. ^ https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Hausmann%2C%20Andr%E8s
  2. ^ https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Imago%20Theatre
  3. ^ https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Imago%20Theatre
  4. ^ https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/theatre/micheline-chevrier-takes-over-imago-theatre
  5. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/en/our-history
  6. ^ https://www.kristajackson.net/
  7. ^ https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Imago%20Theatre
  8. ^ https://theconcordian.com/2024/01/montreal-theatre-opening-the-stage-for-an-inclusive-approach-to-live-performance/
  9. ^ https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Imago%20Theatre
  10. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/en/previousworks
  11. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/ana-en
  12. ^ https://thelinknewspaper.ca/article/tragedy-takes-flight
  13. ^ https://montrealrampage.com/intractable-woman-does-political-theatre-right/
  14. ^ https://thetheatretimes.com/review-other-peoples-children-cracks-open-postpartum-intimacy-and-labor/
  15. ^ https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/local-arts/theatre-myth-metoo-and-movement-in-circus-themed-persephone-bound
  16. ^ https://cultmtl.com/2020/02/tropic-of-x-imago-theatre/
  17. ^ https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/local-arts/hope-springs-as-montreal-theatres-fall-back-into-semblance-of-normalcy
  18. ^ https://m-a-i.qc.ca/en/fox/
  19. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/redbone-coonhound
  20. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/1.7104514
  21. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/en/artista
  22. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/en/creators-circle
  23. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/en/nested-circles
  24. ^ https://www.imagotheatre.ca/en/accessibility
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