Image description: A collaged poster of a gravel country road, beside the road on the left, is lush green grass and to the right is a barren field. An oversized larger-than-life halved apple hovers above the gravel road in the centre of the image. Small figures walk and stand on the smooth-cut surface of the apple. Swimming out of frame is a gray shark’s tail in the bright blue clear sky. In the distance beside the gravel road are coniferous trees, and a house floating in a barren tree.
Benevolence
by Fanny Britt
translated by Leanna Brodie
directed by Eric Coates
Gilles Jean, big-time lawyer, returns to his hometown of Benevolence to try a troubling case involving the child of an old friend. But with the ghosts of his deceased brothers and father peering over his shoulder, and his mother asking after the state of his soul, homecoming is no easy thing. This pitch-black comedy offers a surreal reflection on our small cowardices and our great contradictions.
Benevolence won the Governor-General's Literary Award for Drama, and is written by two time GG winner Fanny Britt, in translation by Leanna Brodie.
This play is approximately 75 minutes long with no intermission.
Content Note
Content notes provide more details about what to expect. These notes highlight elements of a performance that people may want to know more about. These can include but are not limited to themes the play may reference and technical elements in the production.
ASL Promo Video
To view the ASL promo video transcript click here.
Audio Preshow Note
To read the Audio Preshow Note transcript click here.
Dec 5 - 17, 2023
Tuesday—Friday: 8pm
Saturday: 2pm & 8pm
Sunday: 2pm
Location:
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre
1233 Wellington Street West, Ottawa, ON
Cast & Creative Team
Benevolence
by Fanny Britt
translated by Leanna Brodie
directed by Eric Coates
Cast:
Mélanie Beauchamp | Mom
Pierre Simpson | Gilles Jean
Puja Uppal | Isabelle Jacques
Sébastien Dijkstra | Marc Raymond / Hercule Jean / Philip McWhirter
Will Somers | Bruno Green
Creative Team:
Ali Berkok | Sound design and Composition
Brian Smith | Set Designer
Emilio Sebastio | Lighting Designer
Isabelle Bélisle | Costume Designer
Jane Vanstone Osborn | Stage Manager
Manon St-Jules | Assistant Director, Shannon Reynolds Recipient
Calendar
Show Type
Show Type Info
Accessibility Info
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Previews are public performances before the official opening. This allows the director, design team, cast, and crew to make small adjustments to the show that weren't found during rehearsals before critics are invited to attend.
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On the first Sunday of each production, GCTC’s 2pm matinee is PWYD (Pay-What-You-Decide). At the box office, you’ll pay whatever you decide for your ticket. You pay the price that best meets your needs.
PWYD tickets are available for purchase starting at noon the day before the performance (Saturday at 12pm). You can purchase PWYD tickets by calling the box office or visiting in-person.
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Learn more about the production and go behind the scenes with the people who created the show. You are invited to stay for a Q+A with some cast/company members.
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The first Friday of our production is sold at 50% capacity. These are also mandatory masking shows. Come to these shows if you want to wear your mask and have more space between your group and others watching the show.
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The second Tuesday is GCTC’s Relaxed Performance show. We invite you to come as you are and listen to your body’s needs.
During relaxed performances, there is a pre-show introduction to the play and the audience lights will be left on slightly. We invite you to get up, move, stretch, leave and re-enter the theatre as your body needs. We have a chill out space, access guide and lobby display to support you attending and learning about the show.
All of our relaxed performances are also reduced capacity, meaning 50 % of the tickets are sold and masks are required.
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These shows include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.
This means spoken English is interpreted into ASL. There will be ASL interpreters on the stage during the performance.
For people who use ASL, you can book these designated tickets by using the promo code ASL. This means you will have the best view of the interpreters for the performance.
If you would like to take advantage of pick-your-price ASL seats, you can use codes ASL15, ASL25 or ASL30 to pay $15, $25 or $30 for your ticket(s).
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Our audio pre-show notes give you a full description of the play, set and characters. We will add the pre-show note to the show webpage for the opening night.
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Pick-Your-Price tickets are available for $15, $25, and $35. Pick whichever price makes the most sense for you.
To take advantage of this program online, enter the promo code at checkout:
$15 | enter promo code PYP15
$25 | enter promo code PYP25
$35 | enter promo code PYP35