Study Guide This study guide is meant to help you and your students prepare for the amazing encounter that is Snail s Shadow. By giving you information about the creative process surrounding the production, you will be able to imagine and dream about the play you are about to experience. You will also discover the themes, the characters, the set, the important symbols, as well as a few suggestions for activities to prepare for the show. We will also present some ideas for generating positive post-show discussion. We created this guide as an entrance into the poetic and playful universe of the play. Understanding a play goes beyond the story, in our opinion. Each audience member brings his or her own creativity and imagination to the play, and we believe in creating space for everyone s personal interpretation of the play. This guide will not offer any answers there are no right or wrong answers it will simply direct your attention to certain aspects of the theatre experience in order to open the mind and spark interest around the play s images. We hope that this teaching tool will allow children to take a small step into the world of Snail s Shadow before they themselves experience an encounter with the mystery of someone living with an intellectual disability. Nuages en pantalon a creation company Founded in 2001 in Quebec City (the capital of the province of Quebec), Nuages en pantalon, which means literally Clouds in trousers, brings together artists from different backgrounds to explore the expressive possibilities of a performer s body, to create original theatre productions for today s audiences: young, teenage, or adult. For more details about the company, please visit nuagesenpantalon.qc.ca
Director s Notes Dear Sophie, my little sister, Every time you look deeply into my eyes, I am fascinated. I whisper soothing words in your ears and I can tell you understand me. But how do you understand? How do you think? How do you dream? It s a complete mystery to me, for which I will never find any answers. When we were little, and we went to the mall with Maman, you in your adaptive stroller and me, trotting alongside, it happened often that another child would stop in his tracks, right in front of you. He would stare at you, paralyzed by your difference, and by a flurry of questions. Then, this child s mother would tug at his arm and mutter: Don t look at the little girl like that. But what shame was there in looking at you like that? We were much more troubled by the discomfort in the adult s gaze. The child s fixed stare, pure and direct, was perfectly natural. Was I not as fascinated as he was by the depth in your eyes? When I suggested the Snail s Shadow project to the creative team, I wanted us to think not only about those looks, the ones that dwell on difference, that judge, the ones that are filled with our expectations, but also those that transform, transfigure, accept, and love. We have created for you, for the other children and for their adults, this play, in homage to the mystery you carry within you, the mystery of life. I hope you like it, and though I will never know what you see, I know you see it through those very special eyes of yours. Jean-Philippe Joubert P.S. Thank you Maman and Papa for teaching me to look.
The production The play s beginnings The play is inspired the personal experience of Jean-Philippe Joubert, artistic director of the company, whose sister lives with a serious intellectual and physical disability. The play explores the way one looks at difference, and the beauty hidden in the mystery of a person we so wish to understand. This project brings forth our desire for children to discover difference, so that they can approach and see it in another light. The story A brother and a sister. Completely different. He is a little boy, ordinary as can be. She is in a wheelchair she doesn t walk, doesn t talk, and moves strangely. Along comes a ballerina, magically appearing from a birthday present. She meets the sister. It is a shock. She will have to approach her slowly, with care. A pas de deux where two pairs of eyes softly meet; a story of taming one s own fears, where mystery becomes the most wonderful dance! Children with special needs are welcome audience members for Snail s Shadow. Their presence enhances the show s experience. We suggest that they sit in the front row. In this way, all the young audience members can see where the sometimes strange, sometimes troubling reactions are coming from. Together, the experience is that much more beautiful!
The characters Hugo the boy Hugo is a playful young boy who wishes to unlock the mystery of his disabled sister. He wants to offer her a birthday gift, but what would she really like? Dreaming, he imagines what could possibly be going on in her mind, in her heart. His movements are simple, dynamic and natural. Valérie his sister Valérie is Hugo s sister, a young girl living with an intellectual and physical disability. Her movements are unpredictable, full of strangeness and spontaneity, but also full of great beauty, depending on the way we look at her. Valéria the ballerina Valéria is a magnificent ballerina who wishes to dance on the most famous stages in the world. She works very hard to become the very best. Her movements are gracious, solid and complex. Meeting Valérie will teach her a whole new way of dancing. The set The story of Snail s Shadow is set in an evocative, imaginary place. At the stage s centre, there is a canvas screen in the shape of a snail s shell. Throughout the story, shadows and video clips are projected on it. This part of the set represents the characters inner space, where their thoughts, dreams and questions come to life.
Pre-show activities Here are a few activity ideas that you can do with the children before seeing the production. The theme All children have not been in contact with a disabled person. At first glance, this contact can be both troubling and intriguing. Here are a few discussion ideas that will allow you to discover the world of the play and its themes. Difference Definition: In everyday life, difference means something that distinguishes one thing or one person from another. Q: What makes you different from your friends, your parents, your teacher? In the play: The three characters are very different. They each move, speak and dance in their very own way. Drawing a snail to approach the theme In this study guide, you will find a drawing of snail that you can photocopy and give to your students. Have them each draw their own snail. Encourage them to colour the snail according to their own tastes. They can give it a name, a pair of shoes, a tie, or a bow on its head! Everyone should go about drawing the snail with his or her ideas and preferences.
Ton nom : Le nom de ton escargot :
Then, share the drawings with each other to start a discussion around difference. Everyone had the same snail to draw at the start. But then, each person imagined and drew their snail differently. Look at the snail drawings together and direct the discussion to make links with the snails and people who are different. Q: How are you different from your neighbour? Q: Do we all have the same hair colour, eye colour? Do we all have the same height? The same way of moving? Of talking? Q: Do you know anyone who is very different? There are adults and children who are very different. Do all adults talk in the same way? Do some move differently? In what ways are they the same? Q: Do you know any? Q: What makes them different from you? Q: In what ways are they like you?
The signs and symbols, starting from the poster Here is the show s poster. Discussing it is an excellent way of introducing the play and preparing for the show. Q: What do you see? The characters, the colours, the objects?
The snail and its shell On the poster: The play s title is written in the shape of a snail. And behind each character on the poster, you can see three concentric half-circles, that look like the set in the production, as well as the coil of a snail s shell. In the play: The snail represents a strange and mysterious animal. Like Valérie, we have many questions about it. Hugo tries to understand what it hidden behind its shell, in the same way he tries to discover what lives behind his sister s colourful eyes. The snail s shell stimulates our curiosity. It suggests a mysterious beauty and strength, but also great fragility. Just like Valérie, its frail and delicate shell requires a special kind of care. Shadows and silhouettes On the poster: The characters are shown as silhouettes, we can see also their shadows stretching out in front of them, in slightly deformed shapes. In the play: In the production, shadows are used often. They represent the dreams, thoughts and questions of the characters. They also represent the alter ego, or another facet of a character, something he or she wishes to become. Just for fun The size of a shadow depends on the size of the object and its distance from the light source. The closer the object is to the light, the greater the shadow. Shadowgraphs consist in placing your hands between the light source and a screen to create silhouettes that look like an animal or an object. We can also create strange and fun shadows with our own silhouette.
Classical ballet On the poster: Two characters are shown on the poster. One of them is wearing a tutu. Her name is Valéria the ballerina. Classical ballet is a rigorous form of dance that has a very precise technique and a specific movement vocabulary. It is a very demanding art that require enormous discipline from the dancer. Valéria, the ballerina, works very hard to perfect the technique of her balletic positions and figures. In the play, the ballerina s repeated and complicated movements contrast with the spontaneous and random movements of Valérie, the sister in the wheelchair. The wheelchair On the poster: The other character on the poster is in a wheelchair. Her name is Valérie, the sister of the boy, and she is living with an intellectual and physical disability. Definition: The expression intellectual disability is the word definition which tells us about a person who has intellectual challenges. These people have important limitations in their intellectual functioning and behaviour. Professionals, using different types of tests, evaluate these limitations. They can refer to conceptual, social or practical abilities. Basically, these people often have a slower pace of development and acquire knowledge in different ways. They can also have physical disabilities, but it is not always the case. Some have difficulty walking and/or talking, or are simply unable to do these things. Some of them are in wheelchairs and need help accomplishing some daily tasks.
They express themselves and react differently. However, they have needs just like ours, like eating, sleeping, having fun. They also need love, like all human beings. They might have limitation, but their dreams do not, just like ours. Let s see them in another light and welcome their difference: Q: Do you know any children who are in wheelchairs? Q: Have you ever met/seen another child your age who can t speak? Q: Have you ever met/seen another child your age who can t walk? Q: How did you react? Q: What were you thinking at the time? Note: It is very possible that some of your students have never been in contact with an intellectually and/or physically disabled person. Sounding out the group will allow you to see where your students are coming from when it comes to this subject. Know that this show was conceived with these particular students in mind. In the play: Valérie has a serious physical and intellectual disability. She moves, communicates and expresses herself differently. She doesn t walk, doesn t talk, and she picks things up with some difficulty. Her brother must help her drink, go to bed, and move around in her wheelchair.
Bubbles On the poster: You will see around the characters many floating circles; these are soap bubbles. In the play: Bubbles represent lightness, freedom, fragility and the unpredictable. A bubble gives us a place of freedom where we can dream, and imagine. Notice on surface of a bluble is a shimmering prism of colours. The bubbles are like Valérie s eyes, a multi-coloured world filled with light and well-kept secrets. They float in all directions, in an unpredictable way, just like Valérie s movements. Just to get moving A soap bubble swells, floats away softly, following the breeze, changes direction, bursts and falls. Imagine that your body is a soap bubble. You are being inflated, you fly away, float, and with a gust of wind you change directions, you burst and fall to the ground in tiny droplets. All together, you can do the dance of the bubbles. Now imagine that your hand is the bubble. Only your hand follows the bubble s path. It s a unique dance every time!
After the show The show will have triggered emotions, sensations, thoughts and questions in each audience member. It is one of the wonders of theatre: everyone sees, lives, feels and analyses things in his or her own way. Valuing different reactions and points of view enhances the discussion that comes after seeing the show. There are no right or wrong answers. Let yourself be surprised by your students points of view and comments. Even the show s creative team continues to learn about the play when they hear the audience s comments and reactions. React to the show: Want to send us a drawing or your class project? Write us: info@nuagesenpantalon.qc.ca Visit us: www.nuagesenpantalon.qc.ca Follow us on Facebook: Look for Nuages en pantalon YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nuagesenpantalon Vimeo : http://vimeo.com/nuagesenpantalon Nuages en pantalon compagnie de création 939, avenue de Salaberry Québec (Québec) G1R 2V2 Phone 418-780-3688
L Ombre de l escargot Production: Nuages en pantalon compagnie de creation In coproduction with Les Coups de théâtre Creative team Written and directed by Jean-Philippe Joubert in collaboration with the creative team Dramaturg: Isabelle Hubert Original cast Maxime Allen Valérie Laroche Sonia Montminy Set, costume design, props and puppets: Claudia Gendreau Music: Mathieu Doyon Lights and video: Jean-Philippe Joubert Stage Management: Michelle Bouchard, Geneviève Lessard et Julie Touchette Technical direction: Julie Touchette Research: Hugo Lamarre and Marie-Hélène Lalande Muse: Sophie Joubert Study guide and workshop conception: Andrée Beaulieu Illustration: May Rousseau The original version of Snail s Shadow, L Ombre de l escargot, benefited from a residency at the Studio d essai des Productions Recto-Verso thanks to l Entente de développement culturel between le Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition feminine and the City of Québec. The show also benefited from a creative residency at the Anne-Hébert primary school in Québec City. We thank TELUS for its important contribution to the creation of L Ombre de l escargot. Nuages en pantalon compagnie de création would like to thank the ministry of Culture, Communications and Feminine Condition, the Conférence régionale des élus de la Capitale- Nationale, the Forum Jeunesse de la region de Québec and the CLD de Québec, for supporting emerging artists.