Phénomena is an interdisciplinary and bilingual event that is produced by the daring Filles électriques, who have been based in the Mile-End for the last 12 years.
On the menu this year: a 150 artists (Quebec, Canada, Spain, France) for 40 shows both indoors and outdoors. Iconoclastic performances spanning shadow theatre, tableaux-vivant, projections, contemporary puppets, automatons, object theatre, a queer cabaret, performance dance, experimental music, high-tech in low-tech fashion, and poetic and artisanal installations.
A big change for this year: the program is partially being presented at the Bain Saint-Michel, an architectural heritage jewel whose beauty has not yet been altered by tasteless renovations. Another change: there will be several outdoor performances on avenue du Parc and at the Champ des possibles. The Festival will of course keep its headquarter at La Sala Rossa and the Casa del Popolo, two legendary venues which openly welcome propositions of the craziest sort.
For us, interdisciplinarity is not a mere accumulation of disciplines, but rather a way of working that is guided by a perpetual questioning, which transgresses norms and takes us out of our comfort zone. Phénomena offers a platform for those who explore, for emergent artists and small independent, inventive and anti-conformist productions.
One of our sources of inspiration is Georges Méliès, the inventor of the first special effects for cinema. In addition to directing hundreds of films, he was also an illusionist and the director of the Théâtre Robert-Houdin. He dedicated his life to creating a poetic and fantastic world, and took all the tasks upon himself: actor, director, illustrator, decorator, magician and mechanic. This pioneer of the DIY approach is very dear to us.
We always work with our audience in mind, for we believe that the avant-garde is for everyone, the initiated and uninitiated alike. Moreover, our shows are presented at unreasonably reasonable prices. Phénomena is for each and all!