The upcoming theatrical season at Le Diamant in Québec City promises profound explorations of human experiences through three distinct productions. 'History of Violence' is a gripping narrative adapting Édouard Louis' novel, focusing on societal injustices through personal trauma. 'The Last Tape' delves into introspection and legacy through the eyes of a solitary, disabled filmmaker. Finally, 'Classic(s)' offers a dynamic reflection on what defines a classic play, merging wit and contemplation. These productions aim to captivate audiences with their diverse themes and talented performances.

Exploring the Depths of Human Experience: A Theatrical Journey

At Le Diamant in Québec City, three poignant theatrical performances invite audiences to engage with profound human experiences and societal themes. From Édouard Louis' raw narrative in 'History of Violence' to the introspective journey in 'The Last Tape,' and the lively exploration of timeless works in 'Classic(s),' this season promises a blend of personal stories and broader social reflections. With a lineup of talented performers, Le Diamant sparks conversations on identity, memory, and the enduring impact of classic narratives.

Exploring Human Complexity Through Theater: Le Diamant's Compelling Lineup

What is a classic? Why is one play still performed while another snores away under the thick blanket of Time? A joyful mix of ideas about the works we call “classics,” this show is both eloquent and irreverent (and perhaps even a little provocative). It’s about observing the immutable Time to understand the disruptive Now.

Classic(s)

Le Diamant

AB is an older man living with a disability alone in an apartment cluttered with memories. Now reduced to solitude and silence and prisoner of his body that no longer obeys him, this well-known director spends his days in a wheelchair in front of a computer—his only window to the outside world. Like Krapp, the character in Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape, AB is investigating himself. He listens again to the recordings he’s made over the course of his life, like a type of audio diary, seeking to understand what was perhaps the turning point of his existence before he goes on to record the final cassette. What is the meaningful message that AB wants to leave as his legacy?

The Last Tape

In Édouard Louis’ autobiographical novel “History of Violence,” a chance encounter between Édouard and Reda in Paris quickly escalates from flirtation to a night of intimacy. However, the atmosphere shifts dramatically when Reda reveals a gun and robs Édouard, leading to a violent and traumatic experience. Seeking refuge with his sister Clara, Édouard grapples with the aftermath of the assault, revealing deep-seated societal issues of racism, homophobia, and power dynamics. Through diverse perspectives, including reactions from those around him and professionals like police and medical personnel, the novel uncovers the pervasive nature of these social injustices. Thomas Ostermeier collaborates with Édouard Louis to adapt the novel into a German-language theatrical production, offering a poignant exploration of themes such as coming of age, desire, migration, and systemic violence. “History of Violence” serves not only as a personal narrative but also as a penetrating social commentary, shedding light on the complexities of contemporary society.

History of Violence

For those who have lived in Quebec City for a long time, the word Courville evokes a village from another era that was located on the outskirts of Quebec City, Canada.

The name has since disappeared and Courville has been fused into a suburb that merged later on with Quebec City. But some remember what was distinctive about the place: its immediate vicinity to the Montmorency Falls, the highest in North America, and its Ordovician limestone subsoil that created a multitude of more or less giant caves outcropping under an uncertain surface.

Courville

Le Diamant Theatre

Vernon Subutex 1, presented October 3 and 4 at Le Diamant, reveals a contemporary society of isolated, vulnerable humans and the vultures that have their eyes on them. It’s a society lacking nothing and everything and that no longer seems to have the choice between its destruction and its redemption. Parts 2 and 3 describe—with the same corrosive rancour—the development of a community around the central character, Vernon Subutex, who has become itinerant. Published in 2017, the last part was profoundly influenced by the 2015 Charlie Hebdo and Bataclan attacks in France. Literally explosive and post-apocalyptic, the novel ends in the near future of 2186. By then, the “Subutex” movement has become a sect that seeks, through transcendental music inspired by Alex Bleach, a communion between beings that goes beyond differences and identity-based issues.

Le Diamant

Apr 30 - May 2, 2025

Classic(s)

10 - 12 Apr, 2025

The Last Tape

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