Adults
CERCLE DES ÉCRIVAINS
Our Writer’s Circle is an opportunity for French-language writers of all genres to meet ten to twelve times per year under the guidance of two dramaturgy consultants. The writers can choose to share their work with the group for feedback.
The cost is $75 for the year and registrations are accepted year round. If the cost is an obstacle, please contact David to see about making alternate arrangements.
The registration form can be found on the French side of our website. You can CLICK HERE to be redirected.
Contact David for more information by clicking on the button below.
Meet our consultants!
David Baudemont lives in Saskatoon where he writes scripts for theatre, novels, and poetry. He has won the French book award from the Saskatchewan Book Awards three times! He has co-facilitated the Circle for about twelve years.
He got the opportunity to watch the birth and evolution of many fransaskois works, including several of his own, during the bimonthly meetings.
He enjoys coming up with “philosophicofarfelus” warmups that, with a little chance, will inspire you.
Madeleine Blais-Dahlem has been a member of the Writer’s Circle for around twenty years and co-facilitator with David since 2019. She is mostly dramaturg but is also the author of “La voix de mon père” a semi-autobiographical novel that celebrates fransaskoisie (French-language culture in Saskatchewan).
The Circle is at the heart of her literary creation; the advice and support that she finds in it are an essential launching pad. She also enjoys coming up with writing exercises to challenge writers to go where their inspiration leads them.
DRAMATURGICAL DEVELOPMENT
La Troupe du Jour (LTDJ) has set up a dramaturgical mentorship program for French-language playwrights in the province to support them throughout their writing work. This process extends over a three-year cycle.
The first year of the cycle is one of screening and an intense period of writing, during which local playwrights are paired with a mentor.
The second year includes a development laboratory with actors and a consulting playwright.
The third year represents the culmination of the work on stage with the production of the piece by the company, if the artistic direction of LTDJ judges that the text is ready and that it responds to the artistic inspirations of the company.
This three-year cycle therefore allows LTDJ to develop three texts simultaneously, and at different stages. Often the playwrights chosen for this program began their texts as part of the activities of the Writers’ Circle; This Circle therefore proves to be a privileged place to identify promising texts by playwrights from the province.
One person who went through the process was Martine Noël-Maw and her play Will & Ernest. Congrats Martine!
For more information, contact Bruce McKay, Artistic Director, by email (click the button below) or phone 306-244-1040 extension 2.
CARTE BLANCHE
In order to contribute to the vitality and advancement of French-speaking theater practice in Western Canada, La Troupe du Jour (LTDJ) implemented the “Carte blanche” project in its Production Center located in Saskatoon. This workshop makes it possible to welcome annually, in its spaces, an established artist-creator or a group of artists wishing to lead a theatrical creation laboratory.
The primary goal of Carte blanche is to offer an additional means of promoting the development of artists by giving them access to a professional space for exploration and creation. At the end of the residency, LTDJ asks the artist or group of artists to make a public presentation of their laboratory and/or to offer a workshop to artists from the region. La Troupe du Jour will of course offer support for the promotion of this public presentation. For example, the 2023 Carte blanche was granted to Natalie Fehéregyhàzi, Patrick Alex Daheu and Elaine Juteau, who worked on the development of their show THREE CHEZ US SUR LE SHINE DE LA LUNE, and made a public presentation at the end.
Carte blanche is not only intended for Fransaskois artists: we are also open to French-language artists or groups of artists from outside Saskatchewan.
What La Troupe du Jour offers:
- Access for a specific period to our performance studio
- Logistical assistance for a public presentation
- Promotion in our network for the public presentation
- Technical personnel costs related to the public presentation (maximum 20 hours)
What the artist(s) provide:
- Fees for all artists participating in the project
- The materials needed for the project
- Technical personnel costs related to the public presentation which are not paid by LTDJ
- Transportation and accommodation costs for artists coming from outside Saskatoon
This year submissions will be accepted: From December 1, 2024 to February 15, 2025.
Date of the Carte blanche: Over the summer of 2025, exact dates to be determined.
Are you interested in Carte blanche? Please fill out the application form on the French side of our website. You can CLICK HERE to be redirected.
For any further information, contact Bruce McKay by email (click the button below) or call 306-244-1040 extension 2.