MARCH 18 TO 28, 2026
SPONSORS
FUNDERS
We recognize that Théâtre Cercle Molière is situated on the ancestral lands of the Anishinabee, Ininewak and Dakota peoples, as well as the homeland of the Métis Nation. We recognize that Manitoba is also home to the ancestral lands of the Anishininiwak and Dene. Stories have been told on these lands for millennia, and we would like to thank our ancestors, our grandmothers and grandfathers, for proudly transmitting to us the English language and the Michif language.
Théâtre Cercle Molière | 2025-2026 | Playbill 05 | Soutensions
Printed on recycled paper by Contemporary Printing Services Inc. Illustrations and layout : Arielle Morier-Roy
Soutensions Produced by Théâtre Cercle Molière
Brandi Karam Daoud
Christelle Louise Deniset
Marianne Marie-Michelle Vienneau
Director Danielle Sturk
Phil Alex Coates
Playwright Amber O'Reilly
Stage Manager Samantha Sage Set Design Anna-Binta Diallo Lighting Design & Video Charlotte Baker
Andrée Élaine Tougas
Doctor Patricia Bitu Tshikudi Technical Director Miguel Fortier Assistant Technical Director Patrick Bellemare
Costume Design Émilie Beaudry-Levesque
Sound Design Daniel Péloquin-Hopfner Dramaturgical Advisor Pascale St-Onge
Mentorship Brenda MacLean, Brian Perchaluk
Excerpt from the video work Ensoleillé (Héliophile) – Anna Binta Diallo (2025)
Painter Melissa Smigelski
Carpenter Robbie Playter
Technicians Meagan Chrest, Keith Damboise, Tommy Inthirath, Rowan Lundy Subtitles Operator and Translator Jack Maier
THE ESSENTIALS Please switch off your mobile phones. Taking photographs or videos during the performance is prohibited. Show Duration: 90 min, with no intermission
Suggested Audience: 16 years +
Talkback with the Artists: After the show on Thursdays, March 19 and 26. Audience advisory: Mature audiences; includes a scene depicting reproductive care. L'aparté: From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., before the performance on Friday, March 20, join Marie-Ève Fontaine and Pluri-elles for a discussion on the theme: “How can we accept the life choices of those we love?”. Accessibility Services: Get access to English or French subtitles, hearing assistance devices and more. Ask our team about our accessibility services or visit cerclemoliere.com/en/box-office to learn more.
JE VEUX LIRE CECI EN FRANÇAIS
Oops! Il semble que vous vous soyez égaré·e·s. Scannez ce code ou visitez la page Web de la pièce pour retrouver le programme en français, qui est aussi disponible au théâtre.
Soutensions
3
SYNOPSIS Soutensions is a family that carries the weight of its choices. Brandi doesn’t want children — and with her thirties ahead of her, she’s standing firm. She’s hosting the family for her sister Marianne’s twins’ birthday. But, as always with this clan, the party doesn’t go as planned. Andrée — the aunt who chose not to become a mother and hasn’t been seen in a decade — shows up unannounced. Her return reopens old wounds with her sister Christelle, the twins’ grandmother. Phil, the twins’ father, has his own take on parenthood, adding more fuel to the fire. Here, life choices are examined under a microscope and freedom comes in many shapes. Soutensions is a kitchen party full of sharp edges and soft spots — equal parts humour, heat and heart.
WHAT'S NEW The 2026–2027 season will be on sale soon! Get a sneak preview of the shows coming to our stage starting next fall in a brochure available exclusively in the TCM lobby. It’s also the first Cercle Molière season curated by our new artistic director Marie-Ève Fontaine! The next Family Sunday will take place on April 19 at FPFM. Come celebrate Earth Day with the whole family: a springtime multisensory experience with Marianou! Family Sundays are free French-language events for children and their families, offered in partnership with the Fédération des parents de la francophonie manitobaine. Places are limited, so reservations are encouraged.
Until May 26, come (re)discover pieces of art and 100 years of history from the Théâtre Cercle Molière in the display window at the St. Boniface Library. Through documents, posters, and sketches, the collective work of generations of artists, artisans, and collaborators is revealed, along with the role of TCM as a space for experimentation, learning, and sharing. Auditions will be held very soon for a classic comedy produced by TCM that will return to our stage in fall 2026. The audition call for this contemporary adaptation, directed by Marie-Ève Fontaine, will be announced shortly. Subscribe to the TCM artists’ mailing list so you don’t miss upcoming artistic opportunities! cerclemoliere.com/a-propos/auditions
STAY UP TO DATE WITH OUR ACTIVITIES The TCM newsletter keeps you informed about all our events and special projects throughout the season. Sign up on our website's home page: cerclemoliere.com or by scanning this code so you don't miss a thing! Subscribe: Get four discounted tickets to the shows of your choice by purchasing the subscription of the century! Available throughout the season at 204-233-8053 or at cerclemoliere.com/en/box-office#subscriptions
AFTER THE PLAY Share your thoughts about the play with us by completing this short survey on the show's webpage.
4
2025 - 2026 Season Le Siècle Molière
Photo : Sarah Lamontagne
A FEW WORDS Who hasn’t attended a family gathering that goes sour? The brand-new play by Franco-Ténois playwright Amber O’Reilly lets you experience the highs and lows of a family that rarely agrees on what counts as a “good choice”, especially when it comes to women’s bodies. Feels familiar… except that, curiously, in this family it is the women who are the harshest judges of one another. More broadly, the play asks a timeless question: How do we accept the choices of the people we love, even when we don’t agree with them? An essential conversation for any human relationship. Despite its serious themes, the text is extraordinarily funny, making it easy to digest. After all, as my grandfather used to say: it’s better to laugh than to cry! Directed by Danielle Sturk (her first time!) and featuring an all-Manitoban cast, this play will make you laugh… and wince. No one leaves indifferent! Thank you for being part of our 100th season, and enjoy the show!
Marie-Ève Fontaine
Directrice artistique et co-directrice générale du Théâtre Cercle Molière
Imagining a world where women have access to reproductive health services as easily as a vasectomy, “like a totally ordinary sandwich”, without suffering any gender-based prejudice… well, let’s just say that was appealing to me. The invitation from playwright Amber O’Reilly to direct her play about the choice of nonmotherhood might have seemed surprising at first (considering I’ve given birth to four children), but I couldn’t have welcomed it more. I was thrilled to accept this gift—and this challenge. I said a big yes to this first theatrical directing experience offered by TCM… yes to collaborating with a talented cast and design team I hadn’t worked with before… and yes, yes, yes to dedicating myself to this bold, inspired, and necessary text. Guiding its journey from page to stage… what a thrill. Presenting a new artistic creation is a great privilege—and a responsibility I embrace with gratitude for everyone who supported me with kindness and generosity throughout my first TCM directing process. Hats off to Amber for giving us an original text that shines a light on women’s experiences in a patriarchal medical system, the all-too-real consequences of their sexual activity, and the public’s tendency to conflate uterus with societal obligation. It’s high time this subject is discussed openly in our living rooms and theatres—and what better way to do it than through birthday balloons and soggy sandwiches? I hope you’ll join the “party” at this family gathering, where we celebrate (eventually) all the colours of life choices. Enjoy the show!
Danielle Sturk
Metteure en scène de Soutensions
Soutensions
5
CAST Karam Daoud (she/her) Brandi
Karam Daoud is a Moroccan-Canadian artist who moved from Morocco to Canada in 2012. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, she seeks to share her vision of the world through her writing and performances. As an Arab, Berber, and African woman, she rarely sees characters who look like her or with whom she can easily identify. She wants to show that there are at least as many stories to tell as there are people in the world, drawing inspiration from many incredible figures, including her mother. In her free time, Karam enjoys dancing, reading, and playing. She is also a member of a professional dance team called HopsKotch.
Louise Deniset (she/her) Christelle
Louise is thrilled to return to the stage at Cercle Molière, where it all began. It was here that her passion for an artistic life was born, taking her to France, then Ottawa and Toronto to further her training. For many years (but not that many!), she has moved between theatre, television, and film. She also lends her voice to off-screen work and now directs actors in the studio. A devoted reader and lover of human stories, she is proud to join the Soutensions team and bring this intimate, feminist voice to the stage.
Marie-Michelle Vienneau (she/her) Marianne
Originally from New Brunswick, Marie-Michèle Vienneau made Winnipeg her new home in November 2024. Upon arrival, she rekindled her passion for the performing arts after several years away, joyfully rediscovering the pleasure of bringing a variety of characters to life.
Alex Coates (he/him) Phil
Alex Coates is a Franco-Manitoban actor and writer from Dufresne, Manitoba. He has over 15 years of performance experience across theatre, film, television, stand-up, and improvisation. He leads his own theatre group, SensibleChuckleTheatre, which has been featured at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival since 2019. He has also been published in several magazines and anthologies. Soutensions marks his first artistic project with Théâtre Cercle Molière since the Marathon de mises en scenes in 2016.
6
Photo : Sarah Lamontagne
Élaine Tougas (she/her) Andrée
Élaine Tougas had her first theatre experiences and successes with the Festival Théâtre Jeunesse. These experiences opened her eyes to the power of theatre, and she has explored this world through acting, writing, and directing. For over 15 years, Élaine has used her creativity and dramatic flair to teach languages at the University of Saint-Boniface. While she continues to write, this play marks her major return to the stage. She is grateful to Cercle Molière for having played such an integral role in her life from her teenage years onward (not to mention her “older years”!).
Patricia Bitu Tshikudi (she/her) Doctor
Patricia Bitu Tshikudi plays the role of the Doctor in this production. An experienced journalist and host, she has built nearly twenty years of career in the media industry. Recently the Executive Director of the Centre culturel franco-manitobain, she now passionately explores the world of television series and theatre in Manitoba. She has appeared in the adaptation of Les Belles-Sœurs presented at Théâtre Cercle Molière’s centennial gala, as well as in the series Malgré moi and Les faillites d’Astrid. She is thrilled to help bring Amber O’Reilly’s world to life through Danielle Sturk’s sensitive direction.
The next show at TCM is a chance for little ones to discover the magical world of theatre!
Saturday June 13, 2026
A story for everyone, suitable for ages 2½ and up. Tickets start at $10.
High on a hill, there are two of them. Not quite giants. Not really lost. Below them, others… smaller. Two times two times two. Who are they? A mystery. And maybe, just maybe, if we follow them, we can find out too! Soutensions
7
CREATIVE TEAM Danielle Sturk (she/her) Director
With four decades of multidisciplinary creation, Danielle has worked as a dancer-performer and choreographer with companies in Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal from 1985 to 1996, and since 2004 as a writer-director-producer of documentaries, dramatic series, and experimental films. Danielle is dedicated to creating artistic projects that spark collective dialogue on feminism and social issues. She is deeply grateful to TCM for inviting her to direct Amber O’Reilly’s unique vision, exploring the assertion of bodily autonomy.
Amber O'Reilly (she/her) Playwright
Amber O’Reilly is a poet, slam artist, playwright, screenwriter, researcher, and multilingual event host based in her hometown of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Her collection Boussole franche, a finalist for two literary awards, and her play Annie et Tom du lundi au vendredi, winner of the Roland-Mahé Prize, are published by Éditions du Blé. The show, co-produced with Théâtre Cercle Molière, also exists as a hybrid film-theatre work directed by Marie-Ève Fontaine. She completed a writing residency at the National Theatre School of Canada and received the 2024 RBC Prize for her project Ébréchée.
Samantha Sage (she/her) Stage Manager
A graduate of the University of Winnipeg in June 2019, Samantha is proud to be part of the team at Cercle Molière. She began her professional career with La Liste (Théâtre Cercle Molière, 2020). Her other performances include Inédit (Théâtre Cercle Molière, 2021), Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Iago Speaks, Waiting for Godot (Shakespeare in the Ruins, 2023–25), Antigone (Sick+Twisted, AA Battery, 2022), Space Girl, and Serving Elizabeth (Prairie Theatre Exchange). Let the show begin!
Charlotte Baker (she/her) Lighting Design & Video
Charlotte is a multidisciplinary artist passionate about art and theatre. Driven by creativity and a love of collaboration, she approaches each project as an opportunity to merge technology with space, architecture, and characters. Her previous projects include I Dream in Wampum (A'NÓ:WARA), Sakura (Centaur Theatre), tête-à-tête (Tangente), and Dyneema (Danse sur Routes).
8
Anna-Binta Diallo (she/her) Set Design
Anna Binta Diallo (b. Dakar, Senegal; lives and works in Winnipeg) explores how memory and nostalgia create unexpected narratives around identity. Her work addresses migration, displacement, and the relationship between language, history, and identity. Diallo holds an MFA from Transart Institute (Berlin) and a BFA from the University of Manitoba. Her exhibitions include venues such as MOCA Taipei, SAVVY Contemporary (Berlin), MAC (Montreal), and the African Photography Biennial in Bamako, Mali. She has received multiple grants, awards, and nominations, including the Sobey Award longlist. Diallo is an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba on Treaty 1 and is represented by Towards Gallery.
Émilie Beaudry-Levesque (she/her) Costume Design
Émilie Beaudry Levesque is a recent graduate of the Theatre Production program at Humber Polytechnic. She holds a master’s in costume design and creation, and has also trained in sound and lighting design and technology. When she’s not working in theatre, she DJs and runs a clothing upcycling business. Her most recent theatre project was Spycraft with A Yarn or Two Arts Collective (2025).
Daniel Péloquin-Hopfner (he/him) Sound Design
Photo : Annie Éthier
Daniel is a multi-instrumentalist musician and actor based in Saint-Boniface. Known for his stage work with his own projects (Fire & Smoke, Red Moon Road), he also accompanies a number of Canadian Francophone artists, including Flora Luna and Andrina Turenne. His recent theatre projects with Théâtre Cercle Molière include L’article 23 et sa suite (2021) and Empreinte(s) (2023).
Pascale St-Onge (she/her) Dramaturgical Advisor
Pascale St-Onge, a 2016 graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada in playwriting, is a playwright, dramaturgical advisor, and librettist based in Montreal. She is the author of KINK (Espace Libre), L’Hiver attend beaucoup de moi (Opéra de Montréal), and Les Malheurs de Sophie (Théâtre la Roulotte). In 2023, she was recognized by the Youth Committee of the Association of Theatre Writers and received an ARTCENA grant. She is currently developing Girlboss, co-written with Mishka Lavigne, which will be produced in 2027 by Théâtre de la Catapulte in Ottawa. She also collaborates with Théâtre du Clou and Le Moulin à Musique, and teaches at the National Theatre School. Soutensions
9
The pressure that Brandi feels to meet her mother's and society's expectations stretches her patience to the breaking point. Pushed beyond her limits, Brandi’s bubble bursts under the strain. Isn't it time to reinvent our portrait of what a woman should be? In thinking about Brandi's frustrations, the image of a stained-glass window depicting the Virgin Mary immediately came to mind. An idealized model of womanhood — chaste, maternal, with a preordained destiny — Brandi rejects these notions without remorse and with a sense of humour. This illustration is meant to be a contemporary stained-glass portrait celebrating all the womxn who take charge of their destiny and assert their choices, despite the shockwaves that come with bursting the balloon of social conventions. Arielle Morier-Roy (she/they) is a Queer, nerdy, crafty and multiskilled graphic artist Learn more about the artist and the art for this season below!
cerclemoliere.com/ artiste-de-la-saison-25-26
POUR EN LIRE DAVANTAGE La Bibliothèque publique de Saint-Boniface vous offre ces pistes de lecture en lien avec la pièce.
DOCUMENTAIRE : C'est dans ta tête: pourquoi minimise-t-on la douleur des femmes? de Valérie Bidégaré / 2023
J’ai décidé de ne pas être mère de Chloé Chaudet / 2021
FICTION : Promenons-nous dans les bois: Nouvelles de Margaret Atwood / 2024
Culottées: Des femmes qui ne font que ce qu'elles veulent de Pénélope Bagieu / 2016
Tous ces livres sont disponibles à la Bibliothèque publique de Winnipeg. Recherchez les titres dans notre catalogue et réservez-les pour les récupérer à l'endroit qui vous convient le mieux.
Libérations sexuelles: une histoire des pensées féministes et queers sur la sexualité de Cornelia Möser / 2022
La ballade des matrices solitaires de Cristina Montescu / 2020
winnipeg.ca/bibliotheque
Ça va maman?: Une thérapie maternelle de 90 jours pour se reconnecter et se comprendre de Lory Zéphyr / 2021
Une douce odeur de pluie de Jojo Moyes / 2018
Théâtre Cercle Molière 340 Provencher Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2H 0G7 204-233-8053 | reception@cerclemoliere.com cerclemoliere.com