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The Ensemble
Since its inception the company has functioned as an artistic and administrative ensemble. Currently, the artistic ensemble consists of performers from LeTHAL / Toronto, Le Theatre De Recherché le contre-courant / Quebec and Wildflecken Theater /Berlin. From 1986 to the present LeTHAL & le contre-courant continue to be engaged in a mutually rewarding and creative artistic collaboration based upon a deep and sincere respect for the differences as well as the similarities in the multi-cultural artistic visions within the Canadian and Quebecois cultures. The dialogue, which has ensued over the years, has been the creative source of much of the theatre research in which both companies have been engaged either individually and / or collectively. In 1990 Wildflecken Theater - a moveable feast- was formed as a European base of operation.
Dawn Obokata
Dawn Obokata has been a member of the artistic ensemble of LeTHAL since 1979, participating in all aspects of the artistic and administrative work of the company. In collaboration with Ryszard Nieoczym, she developed a solo performance Faces of the Moon, which evolved into the Soulscapes. Dawn Obokata has been a member of the artistic ensemble of LeTHAL since 1979, participating in all aspects of the artistic and administrative work of the company. In collaboration with Ryszard Nieoczym, she developed a solo performance Faces of the Moon, which evolved into the Soulscapes Wilderness Trilogy. Dawn has performed in Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec, NYC, Germany and Poland. She is currently National Vice-President of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and an animator/companion for LeTHAL’s Wilderness Canada programmes Wilderness Trilogy. Dawn has performed in Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec, NYC, Germany and Poland. She is currently National Vice-President of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and an animator/companion for LeTHAL’s Wilderness Canada programmes.
Sheela Shakespeare
Sheela Shakespeare In 2008 Sheela attained the ripe young age of 80 years. Throughout her career she has been a teacher and she has worked in community theater as an actress, stage manager, lighting designer and producer. In 1978 she began her association with LeTHAL. She has appeared in many of its productions, most notably her one-woman show based on the book of Job from the Bible where she played all the characters – including God / dess She has played many roles in such productions as the Faust Quest, The Bacchae, By God Possessed. She has toured in her one woman show to Poland and Germany as well as through out regions of Canada. She is currently working on another one woman show Tiresias based on the Greek myths and legends of this multi-faceted seer. She is an active Companion in the Ensemble and currently participates in all the Wilderness Canada projects, including both the Theatre Apprentice at Buck Lake and in Wilderness Wending in Northern Ontario. Along with her dog companion Maciek she is a formidable canoeist along the Montreal River every summer.
The Companions: Jane Nicole Dawn Sheela and Maciek along the Montreal River in the James Bay Frontier
Since 1984 the Ensemble core has remained constant with a very strong multi-ethnic orientation. The artistic collaboration of LeTHAL /Toronto, with the Quebecois Le Theatre de Recherche le contre - courant. / Quebec City, has been a most creative and profound experience. Together we have created all the major programs in the theatre and performance research projects including The Faust Quest, Soulscapes, Wilderness Canada and International Touring. An essential element is the on-going exchange program between Quebec and Ontario with such projects as Soundings and Wilderness Canada.
Dawn Obokata & Nicole Champagne
Théâtre de Recherche le contre – courant
Nicole Champagne
Nicole Champagne COFONDATRICE DU THÉÂTRE DE RECHERCHE LE CONTRE-COURANT DE QUÉBEC En 1984 Nicole Champagne poursuivait des études en musique à l’Université Laval lorsqu’elle fit la rencontre de Richard Nieoczym. En formation continue avec ce dernier elle a aussi travaillé avec Zygmunt Molik, co-fondateur du théâtre Laboratoire de Grotowski de Pologne, ainsi qu’avec Kosana et Hans Andrew du Roy Hart Théâtre de France. Durant plusieurs années sa vie s’est partagée entre la musique et le théâtre. Elle a participé à plusieurs concerts avec l’Ensemble de musique ancienne Ductia, dont elle fut co-fondatrice, ainsi qu’avec l’ensemble Renaissance de Québec. Détentrice d’un diplôme d’études collégiales en administration, elle s’occupe de l’aspect administratif du Contre-Courant et en assume la direction artistique depuis 1997. Comme comédienne et ‘''Companion'' elle a participé à tous les projets de collaboration Contre-Courant/LeTHAL et a aussi joué pour la compagnie Arbo Cyber Théâtre? de Québec. Elle a également touché à la mise en scène et l’écriture pour quelques productions. Depuis plus de vingt ans elle anime des ateliers d’entraînement d’acteur. Son expertise dans ce domaine l’amène à travailler avec d’autres compagnies, professionnelles et amateures. Plusieurs jeunes ayant participé à ses ateliers font maintenant partie de la relève théâtrale. Elle est pour eux une personne ressource tant par ses commentaires, comme œil extérieur que pour la direction d’acteurs.
Co-founder of Theatre De Recherche Le Contre-Courant / Québec In 1984 Nicole Champagne was studying music at Laval University when she met Richard Nieoczym. In continuous training with him since then, she also worked with Zygmunt Molik, co-founder of Grotowski’s Laboratory Theatre of Poland, and with Kosana and Hans Andrew from the Roy Hart Theatre in France. For many years her life has been split between music and theatre. She participated in many concerts with ''L’Ensemble de musique ancienne Ductia'', which she co-founded, as well a s with ''L’Ensemble Renaissance de Québec''. Because of her collegial diploma in administration she takes care of Le Contre-Courant administration and since 1997 is the artistic director of the company. As an actor and a companion she participated in all the collaborations of Contre-Courant/LeTHAL and also performed for Arbo Cyber Théâtre?/Québec. She also did some ''mise en scène'' and writing for a few productions. For over twenty years now she animates workshops of actor’s training. Her experience in that field brings her to work with other professional and amateur companies. Many young people who have worked with her are now considered as the new emerging theatre artists. For them she is a resource by her commentaries, her work as an outside eye and actors’ director
Jane O'Reilly
Jane O’Reilly Cofondatrice Du Théâtre De Recherche Le Contre-Courant De Québec Jane O’Reilly fit ses études en musique dans les années 80, et plus tard dans son métier, a spécialisé comme chanteuse de musique ancienne. Entretemps elle fit la connaissance de Richard Nieoczym, et s’engagea dans la troupe d’Actor’s Lab pour jouer dans le projet Faust. Pendant ses années à l’université elle eut aussi l’occasion de travailler avec différents membres de troupes de théâtre alternatif, comme le Roy Hart, et le Laboratoire de Grotowski de Pologne. Co-fondatrice du trio de musique ancienne Ductia, et membre de l’ensemble Renaissance, elle ajouta à ses cordes le métier d’enseignement du chant, et aussi celui de directrice d’ateliers de théâtre dans des sessions de voix et mouvement. Avec Nicole Champagne et Odette Fournier elle fonda en 1985 le Théâtre de recherche le Contre-Courant, dont elle assuma la direction artistique pendant douze ans. Elle continue aujourd’hui d’assister Richard dans son travail dans les ateliers à Québec, et surtout dans les programmes d’été.
Jane O’Reilly Cofounder Of The Quebec-City-Based « Théâtre De Recherche Le Contre-Courant » Jane O’Reilly studied music in the 1980s, and later specialized as a singer of early music. Shortly after her studies she began working with Richard Nieoczym, and joined the Actor’s Lab ensemble to perform in the Faust Project. During her university years she had worked with members of other alternative theatre companies, such as the Roy Hart Theatre, and the Polish Lab. Co-founder of the early music trio Ductia, and principal singer for the Renaissance Ensemble, she also took up teaching vocals, as well as leading theatre workshops in Quebec City. In 1985 she founded the «”Théâtre de recherche le Contre-Courant”, with Nicole Champagne et Odette Fournier; she was artistic director until 1997. Currently, she also assists Richard Nieoczym in his various workshops in Quebec City, and especially, in his Summer Programs.
Ryszard Nieoczym
Ryszard Nieoczym “Since 1972 my collaborators and I have focused our energies on Theatre & Performance Research The praxis is twofold: one, it is rooted in the actor’s craft, the highly disciplined work & play to train the body and to develop a personal physical vocabulary which reveals the deepest states of soul; and two, to find and develop an aesthetic of performance for each individual production which reveals this interior psychic landscape in a way which a modern audience can understand. The artistic vision, which has emerged from the research can be stated this way Theatre is wilderness within civilization, sounding and revealing the depths of the invisible realm of imagination: the Underworld. The theatre experience for the audience in performance and for the performer during the research and rehearsal period is an immersion into the realm of the mythic.”
Ryszard Nieoczym is founder & co-artistic director of LeTHAL / Le Theatre de L’Homme Actor’s Laboratorium a theatre research and performance centre Toronto Canada, and Wildflecken Theater Berlin. He has directed over 45 professional theatre productions in Europe, Canada and the USA. He is currently, a resident director at the Europaische Theater Institut / Berlin He is a former student and a collaborator of Grotowski in both his theatrical and Para theatrical work. As a playwright he has written over 30 plays which have all been produced. His artistic vision is the creation of Imaginal Theatre rooted in mythic sources; and the focus of his work is theatre research and the deepening of the actor’s craft, which he calls Soundings. He is developing a network of artistic collaborators between Europe and Canada based on theatre research projects. Current Soundings take place in Thessaloniki Athens Berlin Graz Zagreb Novy Sad Stuttgart Bruxelles Quebec City Montreal and Buck Lake.
The Montreal River landscape
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