LE DIAMANT UNVEILS PROGRAMMING FOR INAUGURAL SEASON

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This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

(FALL 2019)
From wrestling to opera!

Quebec City, Wednesday, June 5, 2019 – In an event at Caserne Dalhousie, Le Diamant General Manager and Programmer Bernard Gilbert, accompanied by Director and project initiator Robert Lepage, announced the programming for the inaugural season of Le Diamant theatre. From September to November 2019, the new venue will host seven performing arts shows spanning genres from circus to theatre and puppetry to wrestling—a versatile selection with something for everyone.

A meeting place for audiences and the arts
“Le Diamant will be a venue for many different art forms, a welcoming space that brings together diverse communities for events of all kinds, from the accessible to the avant-garde. Our aim is to create encounters between spectators and the arts by setting the stage for unique, emotionally charged moments of wonder,” noted Gilbert.

  1. THE SEVEN STREAMS OF THE RIVER OTA (Ex Machina – Robert Lepage)
    September 7 to 15, 2019 (in French)
    For it’s first-ever event, Le Diamant will welcome the public with the second coming of Robert Lepage’s iconic first creation for his company Ex Machina. Beginning with the Atomic Bomb and the Holocaust, this powerful 7-hour saga takes spectators from Hiroshima to New York, with a stop at the Theresienstatdt Concentration Camp. While it’s a powerful exploration of grief, the central idea of survival triumphs. This theatre masterwork will be presented in Moscow before its two-week run in Quebec City. A must-see show for fans of Ex Machina and Robert Lepage.
  2. BLIZZARD (FLIP Fabrique)
    September 24 to 28, 2019
    Catch the North American premiere of the brand-new creation from this Quebec City circus troupe, a potent mix of humor and breathtaking acrobatics. It’s a tribute to Quebec winters that summons forth childhood memories to take spectators on a wild, poetic, tender journey in the snow—a joy for the whole family.
  3. PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING GALA (NSPW)
    October 5, 2019
    The rumors are true! Le Diamant will host professional wrestling bouts brought to you by North Shore Pro Wrestling. Shawn Spears (formerly Tye Dillinger) faces off against Matt Angel in the main event on an action-packed card. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for Quebec’s many wrestling fans and for neophytes who’ve always dreamed of seeing live wrestling!
  4. WHERE THE BLOOD MIXES (Menuentakuan)
    October 8 to 12, 2019 (in French)
    A whole new world is coming to Le Diamant: intimate, realistic stage design puts spectators at the heart of the drama that ensues when Indigenous people come back to the reserve they grew up on. The Menuentakuan theatre company, which is deeply committed to fostering contemporary Indigenous theatre, also invites spectators to a post-performance meeting with an Elder over a cup of tea.
  5. PASSAGERS (The 7 Fingers)
    October 18 to 20, 2019
    Internationally renowned Quebec circus collective The 7 Fingers makes a stop in Quebec City with this new creation set in the world of trains and stations. Combining acrobatics, movement and projections, The 7 Fingers create encounters with characters who have a lot in common with audience members, swept along by original musical and a collaborative multidisciplinary cast of characters. All aboard for this irresistible theatrical journey!
  6. PER TE. (Compagnia Finzi Pasca)
    October 30 to November 1st, 2019 (in French)
    At the confluence of circus and theatre, this production is a poetic, musical, and sensory recreation of the imaginary world of a woman who left us too soon. Daniele Finzi Pasca, well-known for his creations with Éloize and Cirque du Soleil, developed this compelling show as a tribute to his spouse, who died in May 2016. A dazzling hymn to the richness of life and love, marking the return to Quebec City of the creator of the unforgettable solo performance Icaro.
  7. THE DAISY THEATER (Ronnie Burkett)
    November 6 to 9, 2019 (in English)
    Le Diamant celebrates the end of Fall with a work whose tone is at once tender and outrageous. With his signature touch of magic, the extraordinary Ronnie Burkett, Alberta puppeteer with an international reputation, brings fifty feisty characters to life before our eyes. Presented in English and combining elements of theater, opera, music hall, and vaudeville, this improvised show for ages 16 and up is never exactly the same, but always delightfully irreverent and uninhibited.

Long-term vision
In keeping with its inaugural programing, Le Diamant’s future seasons will continue to feature new voices and practices in the performing arts including theatre, circus, multidisciplinary arts, digital arts, opera, and more. Our first year’s programming truly has something for everyone, with some 20 national and international productions, including 3 or 4 by Ex Machina, showcasing bold performances, mixed genres, and diverse voices.

“Le Diamant’s programming reflects new trends in the performing arts, with its broad formal and emotional range,” added Robert Lepage. “The proven expertise of Bernard Gilbert, whose remarkable career has included time with Carrefour international de théâtre, Maison de la littérature and the Québec en toutes lettres literary festival, will breathe new life into a vision that has been fifteen years in the making. Le Diamant will be a magnet for audiences and the arts, from the most daring to the most innovative. I view the project like a powerful antenna homing in on the new ideas in the air today.”

Affordable tickets
Le Diamant cares about keeping performing arts accessible, and will set ticket prices ranging from $20 to $145 (including tax and service fees). The average ticket price for shows this fall will be $40. There will also be $15 tickets for audience members age 15 and under for most performances—a first—and several dozen tickets will be on sale on performance days at 50% off the regular price. It’s a way to share the pleasure of culture with all audiences, and an invitation to discover the wide variety of performing arts experiences.

Tickets for the inaugural season go on sale
June 5 at 10:30 AM.

lediamant.ca/programming

The road to a grand opening
On August 30, 2019—less than three months from now—Le Diamant will open its doors. To celebrate this long-awaited moment, we’re inviting the public to visit us on August 31 and September 1st, for an artistic journey through this new Place D’Youville icon. To provide the best possible experience for all, free passes to the event will be available over the summer. For details, go to lediamant.ca

Acknowledgements
Le Diamant would like to acknowledge the essential contributions by the Government of Canada ($10 million), the Government of Quebec ($30 million), and the City of Québec ($7 million) to construct this new facility at 966 Rue St-Jean. Le Diamant also wishes to recognize the invaluable support of the following donors: BMO Financial Group, Desjardins Group, Bell, Kabuchan International, Power Corporation of Canada, Hydro-Québec, Robert Lepage, Fondaction, Groupe Dallaire, La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services, Canam Group and Manac, Cominar, Cogeco, GM Development, Sanimax, and L. Jacques and Marie-José Ménard. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the partners who have been with us from day one, and continue to work actively to develop the project: Fondaction, Fonds de développement de la CSN pour la coopération et l’emploi, and Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins.

About Le Diamant
Le Diamant is a unique venue dedicated to presenting the best contemporary creations from Quebec and beyond. The multipurpose performance space will welcome original productions, premieres, and world-class events in an intimate setting. By attracting international audiences, Le Diamant showcases the cultural expertise and artistic excellence of Quebec and Canada. A community-friendly space nestled in the heart of Old Quebec, Le Diamant will be a hub bringing together audiences, emerging artists, and creators from all artistic disciplines.

This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

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