THE NAUGHTY CHILDREN’S BEDTIME STORIES
By Étienne Lepage (Quebec, Canada)Francophone Canadian Theatre
Theatre for Young Audiences
THE NAUGHTY CHILDREN’S BEDTIME STORIES
By Étienne Lepage
Translated from HISTOIRES POUR FAIRE DES CAUCHEMARS
(Quebec, Canada)
Synopsis
Eight stories, each like a chapters in a novel, spring from the fertile imaginations of “two little good-for-nothings” who refuse to go to bed. Making up creepy, fun-filled stories, they spook each other and explore what’s real and what’s not with their imaginations. Rising above the adult absurdities, their mischievous games reflect life’s great truths which one must learn to embrace and overcome no matter what your age.
About
Ages: 8 and Up
Length: 45 min.
Characters: 6 characters (2 F/ 1 M)
This translation is made possible by a commission by The Presentation House Theatre (North Vancouver, Canada) and a grant from Canada Council for the Arts. It was dramaturged by Playwrights’ Atlantic Resource Centre (Halifax, Canada) with dramaturgy by Johanna Nutter.
Production History
HISTOIRES POUR FAIRE DES CAUCHEMARS was orginaly commisioned and produced in 2008 by the École nationale de théâtre du Canada (National Theatre School of Canada). The received a 2012 profesional production produced Compagnie Fast asbl (Brussels) and toured extensivly through Europe.
This translation was workshoped by BoucheWHACKED! Theatre Collective and British Equity WSW London Branch (London UK). It received a second workshop with BoucheWHACKED! Theatre Collective and The Presentation House Theatre (North Vancouver, Canada) and was preented in stage reading form at the DIGITAL CHALLENGES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEATRE: A NATIONAL CONFERENCE (2019).
Awards & Notables
Recipient of:
- Finalist Governor General’s Literary Awards French Language Drama finalist (2014)
- Selection of the 2013 des Rencontres jeune public de Huy
Press
“I was thoroughly engrossed – what a clever, funny, edgy piece!”
Tessa Mendel, Artistic Director
Halifax Theatre for Young People
New Translation Workshop with BoucheWHACKED! Theatre Collective & The Presentation House Theatre (North Vancouver, Canada) and presented at the DIGITAL CHALLENGES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEATRE: A NATIONAL CONFERENCE. Featuring Corina Akeson, Leanna Brodie, Art Kitching & Anthony Santiago.
New Translation Workshop with BoucheWHACKED! Theatre Collective & British Equity WSW London Branch (London UK). Featuring Eleanor Bennett, Caroline Partridge and Viny Lad. Equity producer Lola May.
TRANSLATION EXCERPT
CHAPTER TWO
Damien the Little Goodfornothing
DAMIEN
I’m wicked
PATRICIA
said Damien to himself
sitting up in his bed
in the middle of the night
DAMIEN
I’m wicked
it’s true
but it’s not my fault
I’m only a child
and all children
are naturally wicked
PATRICIA
he said to himself
DAMIEN
For thousands of years
we’ve lied to our mothers
as long as children have been children
So I don’t really see
why not me
I don’t really see
when the urge is so much stronger than me
why I shouldn’t make the most of it
About the Playwright
ÉTIENNE LEPAGE
“I’m not one to believe that theatre for young audiences should set an example. I believe in children’s intelligence, and in their ability to develop deep understanding when faced with a difficult issue.”
Étienne Lepage, Playwright
Étienne Lepage is playwright, scriptwriter, translator and transdisciplinary creator. Based in Montreal, his work has been seen across North America and Europe. Among his many creations, are Rouge Gueule, L’Enclos de l’éléphant, Ainsi parlait. His work has twice been a finalist for The Governor General Award French Language Theatre.
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