30 minutes 13 years + English, French Available for touring

As Flesh Fades Away

Spectators are invited to put on a headset and listen to a fabled conversation from past audio recordings, between performer, Sara Moisan and her Father, Gatien Moisan, renowned artist-painter, who passed away in 2019 from brain cancer.

Through an autobiographical tale, she portrays the intimate relationship with her father’s pictorial works with tenderness and humour, on the meaning of the artist’s creations and profound motivations.

She also questions our relationship to the body, illness and death, in addition to the legacy left by the artist after his death. Inspired by the aesthetics of Moisan’s works, she retraces the painter’s familiar movements through live drawings, artistic video, marionettes and manipulated objects.

A moving and poetic segue between two generations of creators.

Creative Team

Text, direction and performance, Sara Moisan
Dramaturge and actor direction, Christian Ouellet
Motion advisor, Dany Lefrançois
Voice recording and sound design, Stéphane Boivin
Visual installation, Martin Gagnon
Lights and video footage, Alexandre Nadeau
Technical manager, Isabeau Côté and Alexandre Nadeau
Production manager, Marilyne Renaud
Production support, Valérie Essiambre
Graphics and photos, Patrick Simard
With the artistic works of , Gatien Moisan
Translation of the text into English, Denise Babin

Review excerpt

“The new creation from the theatre, La Tortue Noire, As Flesh Fades Away, represents a testimony that is both captivating and moving, it’s the equivalent of a letter of endearment between a daughter and her father.” - LE QUOTIDIEN, Daniel Côté, Canada
“An extremely creative piece, very sensitive, which asks questions about the creative gesture. It’s full of inventiveness. I really liked it.” – RADIO-CANADA, Boran Richard, Canada
“Lessons in life, lessons in death, lessons in the theatre. As Flesh Fades Away is a production that presents as a gift. Unexpected and invaluable. ” - LE QUOTIDIEN, Daniel Côté, Canada

Presentation history

2025

Festival Scènes Sismiques, Les Éboulements, Charlevoix, Canada

Salle François-Brassard, Cegep de Jonquière, Saguenay, Canada

Festival Arrivano dal mare, Ravennes, Italie
2024

L’Illusion, Théâtre de marionnettes, Montréal, Canada
2023

Zones Théâtrales, Ottawa, Canada

Festival Festin de los munecos, Guadalajara, Mexique
2022

Casteliers Festival / Oboro, Montreal, Canada

Flashe Fête, Alma, Canada
2021

Festival international des arts de la marionnette à Saguenay (FIAMS), Canada

Salle Marguerite-Tellier, Saguenay, Canada

Salle Murdock, Saguenay, Canada

Partners

For their support during the creation of this play, La Tortue Noire would like to thank the Canada Art Council, the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec, the Saguenay Art Council, the City of Saguenay and BANG art now centre.