Variable French, english or spanish All audiences Available for touring

The Other in the City

THE OTHER is a human-size puppet that enters shops or wanders around the city. It experiences daily human life by drinking a coffee on a terrace, by reading a book at the library or by ordering a meal at a restaurant. Despite not looking to stand out, its unexpected presence leaves no one indifferent. It is an encounter between citizens at the boundaries of reality and imaginary.

In order to animate the puppet in any given public space, our team of puppeteers is constantly on the lookout as they prioritize improvised and spontaneous gestures. Part of their role also consists in favoring cultural encounters with the population, with the objective of demystifying the art of puppeteering. Beyond the simple animation, the presence of this “other citizen” aims to promote collective awareness and calls for an openness to community life.

THE OTHER was greeted by our elected officials during a formal ceremony held at the town hall where it was officially named “citizen puppet of Saguenay”!

CREATIVE TEAM

Idea, Dany Lefrançois et Sara Moisan
Puppeteers, Anne-Louise Imbeau, Martin Gagnon, Patrick Simard, Sara Moisan
Manipulations Supervisor, Dany Lefrançois
Puppet Design and Manufacture, Mylène Leboeuf-Gagné
Costume Design, Sara Moisan
Puppetry Mentoring, Pierre Robitaille

Extracts from press reviews

« Its gestures were fluid, surprisingly natural, which speaks volumes about the work the puppeteers put in over the past few weeks. » - LE QUOTIDIEN, Daniel Côté, Canada
« The puppet, designed by artist Mylène Leboeuf, and its impressive and realistic gestures were able to garner very positive reactions from the audience » - LE RÉVEIL, Salle de nouvelles, Canada
« Imagine how horrible your life would be if you had four distinctive brains, each able to control an arm, a leg, the body or the head. That is exactly what four puppeteers experimented over the past for weeks in this new initiative by the Théâtre de La Tortue Noire. They were tasked with manipulating a human-sized puppet for their new performance called The Other in the City.. » - JOURNAL LE QUOTIDIEN, Daniel Côté, Canada

Presentation History

2021

Sentiers des Pères, Dolbeau, Lac-Saint-Jean, Canada
Festival international des arts de la marionnette (FIAMS), Saguenay, Canada
Carré Davis Arvida, Saguenay, Canada
Rue Racine piétonnière, Saguenay, Canada
Chicoutimi-Nord, Saguenay, Canada
Parc Ball, Saguenay, Canada
Parc Mars, La Baie, Canada
2020

Zone Portuaire, Saguenay, Canada

Rue Racine piétonnière, Saguenay, Canada

Parc de la Rivière-aux-sables, Saguenay, Canada

Carré Davis d’Arvida, Saguenay, Canada

Village portuaire de La Baie, Saguenay, Canada
2019

Fête estivale d’Arvida, Saguenay, Canada
Fête nationale au parc de la Rivière-aux-Sables, Saguenay, Canada
Spectacle Aérien international de Bagotville, Saguenay, Canada
Festival international des arts de la marionnette (FIAMS), Saguenay, Canada
Festival Tam-tam Macadam, Alma, Canada
École Marguerite-Belley, Saguenay, Canada
Événement Théâtre à l’air, Saguenay, Canada
Festival Festin de Los Munecos, Guadalajara, Mexique
2018

Centre-ville de Saguenay, Saguenay, Canada
Festival Marionnettes Plein la Rue, Verdun, Canada

Partners

For their support during the creation of this play, La Tortue Noire would like to thank the Conseil des Arts de Saguenay, the City of Saguenay, the Conseil des Arts du Canada, the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec, the Festival International des Arts de la Marionnette à Saguenay (FIAMS), the Fabrique Culturelle, Sylvain Gaudreault, the Caisse Desjardins, the Association des Centres-villes de Chicoutimi and the Corporation Centre-Ville de Jonquière.