Theatre New Brunswick and Théâtre populaire d’Acadie will co-produce a bilingual world premiere production for NB audiences this fall.
Two of New Brunswick’s oldest theatre companies have come together in a historic partnership to create the province’s first professional stage production to be produced in both official languages. A Sunday Affair, written by Gabrielle Houle, Thomas Morgan Jones and Richard Lee will be produced by Theatre New Brunswick and Théâtre populaire d’Acadie with a French language translation by Maurice Arsenault.
“My ten-year old dream of creating a play in both a French and an English version by the same actors will become a reality and I am extremely pleased of that,” said Maurice Arsenault, TPA’s artistic director. “Thomas answered this wish that I had shared with him the very first time we exchanged ideas about theatre, exactly one year ago. Thanks for sharing this project with me, Thomas. Long live this TNB-TPA coproduction!”
Described as “a whimsical love story – told over 60 years”, A Sunday Affair will receive a two week performance run at TNB’s Open Space Theatre in Fredericton before touring the province.
“This play has been four years in the making,” said TNB artistic director and playwright, Thomas Morgan Jones. “Much of the script was written through improvisations as Gabrielle and Richard, both exceptional actors as well as writers, played with each other to create the dialogue, scenes, and structure. It is a privilege to bring their dynamic work to the stage here in NB.”
This exciting artistic union represents a major milestone in New Brunswick theatre history, bringing together audiences from both official language communities in a celebration of the province’s strong artistic voice.
“This historic co-production between our companies is significant not only for our theatres, but also for the theatre and arts ecology here in New Brunswick,” said Jones. “It is a cultural exchange as much as it is an artistic exchange, and we are honoured to be working with TPA.”
A Sunday Affair will be workshopped in Caraquet over two weeks in July, prior to a three week rehearsal in September. The production will run at TNB’s Open Space Theatre in Fredericton October 12-23, 2016 (including two student matinee performances) before touring the province October 24 – November 15, 2016. Exact dates and tour locations TBA.
