Centaur Theatre 57th Season

Centaur Theatre 57th Season

CENTAUR THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS 2025-26 SEASON:

THE VIEW FROM HERE

May 26,  2025

Centaur Theatre unveiled its new 2025–2026 57th season, themed The View From Here. This new lineup invites audiences to reflect on where we stand—personally, culturally, and artistically—and to consider how perspective shapes our understanding of the world around us. From reimagined classics to bold new voices, each production offers a distinct lens on identity, resilience, memory, and transformation. Through genre-defying collaborations, world premieres, and unique theatrical moments, The View From Here is both an artistic snapshot of the present and a call to imagine what’s possible next.

Eda Holmes, Artistic and Executive Director of Centaur Theatre, stated:

“The View From Here is about perspective—where we are, where we've been, and where we're headed. This season invites audiences to see the world through different lenses: across cultures, generations, and imaginations. The works we’ve curated are courageous, theatrical, and deeply human—stories that challenge assumptions, spark joy, and leave lasting impressions. Whether you’re a longtime theatregoer or discovering Centaur for the first time, this season offers new ways of seeing and feeling. I can’t wait to share these remarkable journeys with Montreal audiences.”  

The following plays will be staged during the 57th Season:

Stone and Bone Spectacular

October 15 – October 26, 2025

The season opens with Stone and Bone Spectacular  a vibrant new work created by Ange Loft, in collaboration with Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo and Iehente Foote, with Tehatkathonnions Bush, Iehente Foote, Stéphanie Héroux-Brazeau, Wahsontí:io Kirby, Véronik Picard and Iota’keratenion Thomas-Beaton. This large-scale Indigenous production blends puppetry, dance, and storytelling to explore the layered history of Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). The outcome of Centaur’s inaugural Indigenous Artist Residency, Stone and Bone Spectacular is a playful and profound look at the history of Tiohtià:ke featuring dancing beavers, stone-lifting stunts, and long-lost lovers.

Kisses Deep 

November 26 – December 14, 2025

Next, the English-language premiere of Kisses Deep by Michel Marc Bouchard, and translated by Linda Gaboriau. takes the stage . This long-awaited English-language premiere tells the story of the transformational relationship between a troubled, gifted young man and his complex and inspiring mother. Directed by Eda Holmes, the cast includes Lyndz Dantiste, Yves Jacques, Leni Parker, Alice Pascual, and Kevin Raymond.

Goblin: Macbeth

March 4 – March 22, 2026

In 2026, the second half of the season begins with a spontaneous theatre creation by Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak, directed by Rebecca Northan. When three goblins—Kragva, Moog, and Wug—come across The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, they eagerly take over a theatre and attempt their own wild, hilarious, and chaotic version of Macbeth. A one-of-a-kind blend of comedy, tragedy, and improvisation, Goblin:Macbeth is a mischievous, theatrical joyride.

Seeker

April 15 – May 3, 2026

Last but not least, a gripping sci-fi drama by Marie-Claude Verdier, translated by Alexis Diamond and presented in partnership with Talisman Theatre. Directed by Rebecca Gibian, with Bénédicte Bélizaire and Andrew Shaver, this hard-hitting sci-fi drama follows a pair of exes hired by the US military to conduct a mysterious mission on Mars that could have consequences for all of humanity. 

PAC 2025 : Knights

 

KNIGHTS EXHIBITION

May 22 - October 19, 2025

An exceptional collection exploring the world of chivalry

Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex, invites the public to come and meet some of the medieval history’s most iconic figures. Knights is an international exhibition that brings together close to 250 objects bearing witness to the influence that knights and their legacy have had down through the centuries. It highlights the prestigious collection of weaponry and armors from the Stibbert Museum in Florence (Italy), providing unique insight into the significance of the knighthood during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, in addition to showcasing the exceptional expertise of the artisans of those eras who manufactured all the armors, swords, and other indispensable war items.

Anne Élisabeth Thibault, Executive Director, Pointe-à-Callière

Anne Élisabeth Thibault, Executive Director, Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex elaborated:

“This exhibition is the result of a valued collaboration with the Stibbert Museum, while also benefitting from the collaboration of the Musée Cluny - Musée national du Moyen Âge and the Musées de Châlons-en-Champagne, which have allowed us to breathe new life into an iconic figure of both history and the collective imagination: the knight. Thanks to these invaluable collections, the public will have an opportunity to appreciate the full breadth of the beauty and finesse of the art of chivalry. This foray into the societies of this era will also provide a better understanding of the origin of the titles of nobility bestowed upon certain Montrealers who have left their mark on the city’s history. Such is the case of the Knight Louis-Hector de Callière, whose name the Museum now bears.” 

Enrico Colle, Director of Museo Stibbert, Italy

A famous copy of the Mona Lisa at the museum!

A unique piece will be on display in this exhibition: a veritable copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s original work, the Mona Lisa. Painted between 1600 and 1625 and housed at the Stibbert Museum, it is one of the most valuable reproductions of the painting, due to its faithfulness to the original.

The evolution of the figure of the knight and his legacy

The exhibition explores how knights were trained, their equipment, their code of honour, their role in military actions, and their evolution between the 12th and 16th centuries. Complete suits of armour, helmets, swords, and shields—some of the pieces on display are true masterpieces. The exhibition also examines how armour was crafted and how it has been elevated to the status of work of art.

While knights left the battlefield, their chivalrous spirit lived on, especially in tournaments and at court. The exhibition addresses “castle life,” exploring themes such as courtly love, the place women held in this masculine world, leisure activities, and religious aspects. Looking through this window into the daily lives of knights, visitors will get to explore authentic objects and acquire a better understanding of how chivalry has had an influence on society.

The image of the knight has spanned history to become ingrained in literature and legend. For centuries, knights dominated the battlefields and then became iconic figures of the court. Embodying an ideal built on a code of conduct and values, the knighthood has evolved over time, gradually transforming into an honorary title.

Visit the museum to also discover the historical local Quebec knights.

In addition, a room dedicated to the evolution of weapons and combat techniques offers a broader perspective on how chivalry has been transformed over the centuries down to the present day.

A unique experiential zone!

In addition to the immersive exhibition design that chronicles the evolution of a young knight, visitors will also get to enter a zone in which they can experience what it was like to be a knight, trying out pieces of equipment, gauging the weight of armor, wielding a sword, and taking on certain challenges worthy of the greatest medieval tournaments!

Knights – the book

Beautifully illustrated, this publication is a further immersion into the fascinating world of knights. A book that provides an in-depth exploration of the Stibbert Museum’s collection and its unique pieces steeped in history. (100 pages. Price: $24.95 + tax)

Complementing the exhibition

Guided Tours
The Museum is giving guided tours during which visitors can explore the exhibition and ask questions:
-Guided tours (20 min.) / every day (schedules at the reception counter)
-Private tours (50 min.) / upon reservation
-Visitor’s booklet for families

Lectures
The Museum is presenting a series of lectures relating to the exhibition:
-The Knight and his Era / Thursday, June 5 at 7 pm -The Evolving Image of the Knight, Past to Present / Thursday, September 18 at 7 pm -Knight of New France / Thursday, October 2 at 7 pm

Cultural Activities
On Sundays during the summer, the visitors can enjoy free knight-related activities for the whole family. Activities include heraldry workshops, medieval storytelling, calligraphy, fencing, dance, music, and much more!
-Family Sundays / From July 6 to August 17, 1 pm to 4 pm

See the complete program on Pointe-à-Callière’s website.

Acknowledgements

The Knights exhibition is produced by Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex, in collaboration with the Stibbert Museum and Contemporanea Progetti. It is being presented by Desjardins – Caisse du Complexe Desjardins through a partnership with Air Canada Cargo, YUL-Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Tourisme Montréal, Hôtel InterContinental Montréal, and La Presse. The Museum sincerely thanks its lenders, sponsors, and partners.

All Photos in this article @ Nadia Slejskova

About Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex

Inaugurated in 1992, on the city’s 350th anniversary, Pointe-à-Callière is today the largest archaeology museum in Canada and the busiest history museum in Montréal. Rising above a concentrated number of historic and archaeological sites of national significance—including the birthplace of Montréal—, the Museum has a mission to preserve its collections and to further knowledge, while showcasing and fostering an appreciation for Montréal’s archaeological and historical heritage. This mission is carried out through various activities focused on conservation, research, presentation, education, and inclusion, along with community initiatives benefiting both Montrealers and visitors to the city. Pointe-à-Callière, proud partner of the City of Montréal.

Centaur 2025: Michel Tremblay

For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again

by Michel Tremblay

May 13 - June 1, 2025

The Centaur Theatre closes its 56th season with a production that is personal and yet universally resonant. The Michel Tremblay's play For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again is a moving love letter to his mother. Though it presents just an individual and a deeply personal experience of a mother-son relationship and interactions, it has a universal quality that invites the members of the audience to remember and to reevaluate their past relationships with their individual mothers.

With the staging of this brand new production of the play, which was translated from French into English by the Governor General’s Award-winning Linda Gaboriau, directed by Alice Ronfard, and enacted by Ellen David and Emmanuel Schwartz, the Centaur theatre celebrates the iconic Quebec and Canadian playwriter Michel Tremblay.

Trembley draws a curtain off his past and lets us peek into his relationship with his mother, and shows us how she inspired, influenced, and drew him into becoming a literary and a playwriter persona he is now. She was an avid reader and the literature connoisseur, and in that way, indirectly, strongly influenced her son. Though at times overpowering and annoying, she was deeply loving and had a sense of humor that also guided and contributed to Tremblay's formation as a playwriter. His mother no doubt also helped him to better perceive, understand,  and to be able to reproduce and portray more accurately and compassionately the women's character in his own literary creations and in his plays.

Set against the backdrop of working-class Montreal in the 1950s and 1960s, the story is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The English-language premiere of this contemporary classic of Quebec drama took place at Centaur in 1998, and the production was hugely popular, going on to tour Canada and the United States. Centaur is proud to bring this masterpiece back to Montreal audiences. 

This play not only celebrates a cornerstone of Canadian theatre but also highlights the significance of translating Quebecois works for English-speaking audiences, an effort that enriches the cultural dialogue between Quebec and the rest of Canada. With the help of a talented creative team, the production provides a rare opportunity for English-speaking audiences to experience the emotional depth and theatrical exuberance of a classic Quebecois piece, making it one of the must-see shows of the season.

About Michel Tremblay

Michel Tremblay is one of Quebec’s most iconic playwrights, renowned for his transformative contributions to Quebec and Canadian theatre. With over 30 plays, 31 novels, and numerous adaptations, Tremblay’s work reflects the complexities of Quebecois life and identity. His play Les Belles-Sœurs revolutionized Quebec theatre, and his works have been translated into 40 languages and performed worldwide. Tremblay has earned over 90 prestigious awards, including the Prince Pierre of Monaco Award and the Gilles-Corbeil Award, solidifying his status as a key figure in global theatre.

All photos in this article by Andrée Lanthier, courtesy of Centaur Theater.
For more information, visit the Centaur Theatre website.

MMFA 2025: Berthe Weill, Parisian Avant-Garde Art Dealer

BERTHE WEILL

ART DEALER OF THE PARISIAN AVANT-GARDE

A large-scale exhibition dedicated to the gallerist who shaped the destiny of modern art 

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

May 10 – September 7, 2025

Berthe Weill was the first woman art dealer to have sold works by Pablo Picasso and exhibited Henri Matisse, Berthe Weill (1865-1951) championed some of the greatest artists we have come to know today. This Canadian exclusive is the first exhibition dedicated to the career and artistic vision of this trailblazing woman who had an extraordinary impact on the history of Modern art.

This landmark exhibition is the first devoted to the fascinating career of gallerist Berthe Weill (1865-1951), an important, but nearly forgotten figure of modern art history. Weill was the first woman to focus primarily on championing young painters just as they were beginning their careers. In her gallery, she exhibited some of the greatest artists we have come to know today: Pablo Picasso, Raoul Dufy, Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, Diego Rivera, Henri Matisse and Suzanne Valadon, among many others.

Among the nearly 100 works presented in the exhibition, some have become milestones in the history of art, while others will enable you to discover the work of still unsung figures, including women artists.

Featuring exceptional loans from major museums in Europe and North America, the exhibition brings together paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, jewellery pieces, and archival documents that testify to the quality of Weill’s gallery and deepen our understanding of its historical context.

In an exclusive showing in Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)
is bringing to light the story of Berthe Weill: a nearly forgotten figure of Modern art who played a seminal role in the development of Avant-garde movements in France in the first half of the 20th century. A trailblazing female art dealer, Berthe Weill (1865-1951) was the first to sell Pablo Picasso’s work and to exhibit Henri Matisse. She was also the only dealer to organize a solo show for Amedeo Modigliani during his lifetime. Passionate, outspoken and visionary, Weill unwaveringly supported fledgling artists, many of whom went on to become icons
of Modernism.

Comprising over 100 works and archival documents, Berthe Weill, Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-garde features exceptional paintings and sculptures by major figures of Modern art ranging from Pablo Picasso to Suzanne Valadon. It is the first large-scale exhibition dedicated to the career and artistic vision of Berthe Weill.

Weill opened her Paris gallery in 1901 in the bustling neighbourhood of Montmartre. She was the first woman to show the work of young artists and the only one to specialize in emerging talent. Her efforts led to the discovery of some of the biggest names we know today. She exhibited works by Pablo Picasso, Aristide Maillol, Henri Matisse, André Derain, Raoul Dufy, Maurice de Vlaminck, Robert Delaunay, Diego Rivera, Amedeo Modigliani, and Marc Chagall, among others, before they had made a name for themselves. She also strove to foster the recognition of women artists, like Émilie Charmy, Hermine David, Alice Halicka, Jacqueline Marval, and Suzanne Valadon. With unflagging enthusiasm and biting humour, the one whom artists affectionately called la petite mère Weill persevered in supporting young artists throughout the nearly four decades of the Galerie B. Weill’s existence (1901-1941).

The exhibition examines Weill’s overlooked contribution to the history of Modernism, highlighting the remarkable achievements of this indomitable businesswoman who overcame sexism and anti-Semitism to preserve her freedom and autonomy.

Exceptional loans and works from the collection

Organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Grey Art Museum, New York University, and the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris, the exhibition boasts exceptional loans from major European and North American museums, some of which will be shown exclusively at the Montreal presentation. It brings together over 100 works by 55 artists, consisting mainly of paintings, but also of sculptures, drawing and prints.

Stéphane Aquin, the Director of the Montreal Museum of Fine arts:

“Over the course of her career, Berthe Weill championed artists who are now considered pillars of Modernism, among them Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, and Suzanne Valadon. Yet her contributions to the history of Modern art have remained largely overlooked, unlike her male counterparts Ambroise Vollard and Paul Durand-Ruel, who have been the subjects of major exhibitions and extensive scholarship. This exhibition aims to rectify this oversight and to help restore the place of this extraordinary art dealer in the cultural firmament.“

Mary‐Dailey Desmarais, Chief Curator of the MMFA:

“We are thrilled to introduce Quebec and Canadian audiences to the first art dealer to devote her gallery exclusively to the promotion of emerging artists, and to celebrate her profound influence on the history of art. Conceived in collaboration with the Grey Art Museum in New York City and the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, this exhibition offers a rare chance to delve into the life and legacy of this bold, and visionary woman who discovered some of the greatest artists of her time – including many women. Works by leading figures of the 20th century avant-garde, several of which are on exclusive view in Montreal, shed new light on the lasting impact of this extraordinary trailblazer.”

Anne Grace, Curator of Modern Art at the MMFA and co-curator of the exhibition:

“Of modest beginnings, Berthe Weill showed a selfless commitment to supporting emerging artists. She introduced the world to some of the greatest names in art in the 20th century, and championed many others whose works merit being better known today. At a time when we are working to bring women out of the margins of history, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see the extraordinary art that passed through Weill’s Parisian gallery while bringing to light her fascinating story.” 

Marianne Le Morvan, guest curator and founder of the Berthe Weill Archives:

“This exhibition marks the culmination of 15 years of research. At long last, Berthe Weill is receiving her due – a vindication made possible through a striking selection of works that once passed through her hands. These pieces restore her rightful place among the world’s great art dealers after half a century of her languishing in obscurity. Beyond acknowledging her pivotal role during the heights of the Modernist era, it is also an act of justice to recognize that her discerning eye and unwavering dedication helped shift the artistic sensibilities of her time. Her life stands as a powerful example of resilience and independence – an enduring source of inspiration.”

 

On tour

Following its run in Montreal, the exhibition will be presented at the Musée de l’Orangerie, in Paris, from October 8, 2025, to January 26, 2026.

All photos @Nadia Slejskova

Click on images to enlarge them.

Visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts website to check on the opening hours and to purchase your tickets online.

Two portraits of Bertha Weill at the exhibition: