10 years and older French 65 minutes Available for touring

The Little Chalk Circle

His epic story, sometimes funny, sometimes touching, follows the incredible journey of Groucha, the servant of a state governor assassinated during a revolutionary attack. As the governor’s wife flees, leaving behind her infant son, Groucha, chased by the revolutionaries, escapes with the child in an attempt to save the heir to the throne from a certain death.

This heroic tale by Bertolt Brecht, adapted in an intimate format, unfolds in all its richness thanks to the inventiveness and originality of the theater of objects set up by two performers as inspired as they are inspiring. Beating the drum, they lead us through all these adventures, all the way up to the ultimate test of the chalk circle, the only way to decide the matter at hand: to whom does this child belong, Blood or Attachment?

Creative Team

Adaptation and Director, Sara Moisan, in collaboration with Christian Ouellet
Starring, Christian Ouellet, Sara Moisan
Costume Design, Guylaine Rivard
Music, Guillaume Thibert
Lighting Design, Alexandre Nadeau
Motion Advisor, Dany Lefrançois
Acting Advisor , Guylaine Rivard
Object Adaptations, Martin Gagnon
Stage Manager, Serge Potvin or Isabeau Côté
Graphic Design, Patrick Simard
Stage play: Freely adapted version of « Le cercle de craie caucasien », written by Bertolt Brecht, in collaboration with Paul Dessau. , French translation by Georges Proser
L’Arche is the Editor and Theatrical Agent of the stage play, www.arche-editeur.com

Extracts from press reviews

« An intimate and entertaining universe with beautiful lyrical flights, this initiatory journey is full of emotions and twists and turns… An epic story brought to life by Sara Moisan and Christian Ouellet, two talentend storytellers who showcase their expertise and inventiveness in a stunning and poetic theater of objects. There is a level of preciseness both in the research and in the aesthetics, all the way down to the smallest of details, simply fascinating. » - THEATRE ACTU, Paula Gomes, France
«The direction, however, deserves special praise, as it is incredibly inventive… The Little Chalk Circle manages to captivate and move just as much as it is interesting: La Tortue Noire offers us a beautiful play. » - TOUTE LA CULTURE, France
« This theater of objects version of the Caucasian Chalk Circle is a total success for Sara Moisan and her team, as she not only starred in the play, but also led the direction and the adaptation along with her co-star Christian Ouellet. It is not an easy task to make the audience feel the soul of Brecht’s text in just an hour with wooden boxes, dolls, framed pictures, plastic figurines and pieces of fabric. Even more so when you consider that the famous distancing effect is presented here through a comedic lense which will not only undoubtedly please the younger audience, to whom the show is destined to, but also stay true to the sense of the story. Well done! » – LE DEVOIR, Michel Bélair, Canada
«It is the kind of show that touches the spirit, just as much as it entertains… You would have to see the play two or three times to find out all the little treasures it contains. » – LE QUOTIDIEN, Daniel Côté, Canada
«I personally adore Brecht because his work allows us to go pretty much anywhere, it opens the door for great things. And that is precisely what the two comedians manage to do in fantastic fashion in The Little Chalk Circle. Everybody can identify with something in their work because it brings us back to what’s essential, to the roots, to the child in all of us. And everybody was hanging from their lips, and from their story. » – RADIO-CANADA, Paule Therrien, Canada
«The theater of objects company La Tortue Noire has evidently decided not to underestimate the 12 to 17 years old audience to whom this show is destined to. Sara Moisan clearly considers this audience to be full of young and bright spirits capable of paying attention to a well constructed story that is sometimes funny, without having to dumb them down with jokes, anachronistic references, shabby vocabulary or burlesque gestures. » - REVUE DE THÉÂTRE JEU, Sophie Pouliot, Canada

Presentation History

2023

Théâtre des Roches, Montreuil, France

Salle Murdock du Centre des arts de Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Canada
2020

Mouffetard théâtre des arts de la marionnette, Paris, France
2019

Salle polyvalente de la Bibliothèque Hélène-Pedneault, Saguenay, Canada
Théâtre des Deux Rives, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada
Salle Murdock du Centre des arts de Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Canada
2018

Théâtre jeunesse Les gros becs, Québec, Canada
Festival Rencontre Théâtre Ados, Laval, Canada
Auditorium La Porte du Nord, Chibougamau, Canada
Salle Murdock du Centre des arts de Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Canada
Théâtre Outremont, Montréal, Canada
Salle polyvalente de la Bibliothèque Hélène-Pedneault, Saguenay, Canada
2017

Maison de la culture de Pointe-aux-trembles, Montréal, Canada
Biennale internationale des arts de la marionnette à Paris, Gennevilliers, France
Pyka Puppet Estival, Fontenay-sous-Bois, France
Bourse Rideau, Québec, Canada
2016

Théâtre Léonard Saint-Laurent, Sherbrooke, Canada
La Maison théâtre, Montréal, Canada
Petit théâtre de l’UQAC, Saguenay, Canada
2015

Petit théâtre de l’UQAC, Saguenay, Canada
Festival international des arts de la marionnette (FIAMS), Saguenay, Canada
Studio théâtre de l’UQAC, Saguenay, Canada
Festival de marionnettes inachevées, Trois-Rivières, Canada

Partners

For their support during the creation of this play, La Tortue Noire would like to thank the Conseil des Arts du Canada, the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec, the Conseil des Arts de Saguenay, the City of Saguenay, the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, the Caisse Desjardins, the National Assembly of Quebec, the dental clinic Mc Nicoll and the clinic of implantology Marc Fecteau.