Montreal Families previews Geordie’s 2021-22 season: “The plays address many themes from consent and friendship to the importance of community and determining your own destiny.”

Read on Montreal Families’ website: Geordie unveils kids’ theatre lineup

***

The plays address many themes from consent and friendship to the importance of community and determining your own destiny

After a year where Geordie had to showcase its plays online because of the pandemic, the theatre company is happy to once again offer in-person shows. Its season kicks off in November and will offer three plays during the 2021/2022 season and it will present two others during the theatre festival in February, 2022.

Geordie Theatre has presented English-language productions for young audiences in Quebec since 1980. Below is a summary of the plays families can look forward to.

JONATHAN: THE SEAGULL PARABLE
November 23-December 11, 2021
Presented at Théâtre Denise-Pelletier
Recommended ages: 13 and up

Inspired by the modern treasure Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, Jonathan: The Seagull Parable follows a young rebellious seagull who, tired of his clan’s repetitive routine, tries to fly differently. Forced into exile, the adventurer finds refuge in a new clan and through time and guidance, returns home with the mission of teaching his community new ways of flying. This story identifies how society perceives physical limitations, as well as how we look at other communities’ ways of living. A tri-lingual piece (English, French, body) that features professionals in both physical disability and non-disabled communities.

OTHER WORLDS
January 14-23, 2022
Presented at La Maison Théâtre
Recommended ages: 10 and up

On a small island overrun by land developers, two radically different strangers’ lives collide after an unexpected ecological disaster. Seeking safety in a bunker, they clash and connect over their shared dislike of the developers, and their conflicting dreams of a utopia where they can do more than just survive. Other Worlds celebrates their unique journeys to claim and strengthen their own self-identity, while working to make deeper connections with the outside world. A play about well-being, friendship and belonging, and the importance of community.

FROM THE STARS IN THE SKY TO THE FISH IN THE SEA
April 29-May 8, 2022
Presented at Centaur Theatre
Recommended ages: 7 and up

In the magical time between night and day, when both the sun and the moon are in the sky, a child is born in a little blue house on a hill. And Miu Lan is not just any child, but one who can change into any shape they can imagine. The only problem is they can’t decide what to be: a boy or a girl? A bird or a fish? A flower or a shooting star? At school, though, they must endure inquisitive looks and difficult questions from the other children. But they find comfort in the loving arms of their mother, who always offers the same loving refrain: “whatever you dream of / I believe you can be / from the stars in the sky to the fish in the sea. This play weaves themes of gender, identity, and the acceptance of the differences between us. Miu Lan faces many questions about who they are and who they may be, but we are reminded, no matter what, that the eternal bond between mother and child will be unchanged.

Geordie Theatre Fest

These two plays will be shown at La Maison Théâtre between February 9-13, 2022.

The PAPER BAG PRINCESS
Recommended ages: 5 and up

Persistent and powerful, Elizabeth is a princess with a lot on her plate. But when a dragon storms her castle and flies away with her “beloved” Prince Ronald, things go from bad to worse. How does a princess rescue a prince if princes are supposed to do the rescuing? Who decided that anyway? Based on the renowned classic, The Paper Bag Princess follows heroine Elizabeth and a cast of new characters on a wild, playful and puppet-filled adventure to discover that only you can determine your own path.

SELFIE
Recommended ages: 12 and up

A new year of high school is full of excitement and potential—but three teens didn’t expect it to bring such a dark change to their lives. After spending a summer reinventing herself in Vancouver, Emma is ready for her new life to start, while her best friend Lily is eager for them to reconnect. Lily throws a last-minute party fuelled by alcohol and Instagram, which leads to a long-awaited encounter between Emma and Lily’s older brother Chris. But the next day Emma feels that something went terribly wrong. This intense play is about the complexities of relationships and community, and opens up a much-needed conversation about the nature of consent, from an unexpected perspective.

For more information, visit geordie.ca