The Weight of Ants

David Paquet is a graduate in playwriting from the National Theatre School of Canada (2006) and lives in Montreal. His plays Porc-epic, 2h14, Appels entrants illimites, Les Grands-meres mortes, Le Brasier, Histoires a plumes et a poils, Le Soulier, Chansons pour le musee, Le Poids des fourmis and Papiers maches and Le Voilier (two one-man-shows of stand-up poetry he performs himself, ) have gathered international praise and have been produced all over North America and Europe. David has won the Governor General’s award (twice), the Michel-Tremblay award, the Sony-Labou-Tansi award (twice), the young audiences Quebec critic’s choice award (twice), the Theatre d’Aujourd’hui audience choice award, a Jessie award and a Dora award. He also teaches playwriting and does dramaturg work for, among others, the National Theatre School of Canada, le Centre des Auteurs Dramatique and le Conservatoire d’Art Dramatique de Montreal.

Leanna Brodie is a writer and performer whose plays include The Vic, For Home and Country, Schoolhouse, and The Book of Esther. She is also a leading translator of contemporary Quebecois/Franco-Canadian playwrights. Recent premieres include David Paquet’s Wildfire (Upstream Theater, St. Louis and Factory Theatre, Toronto: Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Best New Play, Director, and Production); Joe Jack et John’s Violette (Espace Libre); Rebecca Deraspe’s I Am William (Theatre le Clou and the Stratford Festival); and Fanny Britt’s Benevolence (Ruby Slippers/Pacific Theatre). Published translations include Deraspe’s I Am William and You Are Happy, Paquet’s Wildfire and The Shoe, Louise Bombardier’s My Mother Dog, and Catherine Leger’s Opium_37. With co-writer Jovanni Sy, she is working on Salesman in China for the Stratford Festival. Brodie is currently Assistant Professor (Playwriting) at UBC’s School of Creative Writing. www.leannabrodie.com