JUNE 5 + 9
MAIN STAGE FILM | MUSICAL THEATRE
LES FILLES DU ROI
URBAN INK
Adapted from the award-winning musical by Corey Payette and Julie McIsaac, Les Filles du Roi (The King's Daughters) tells the powerful story of a young girl, Kateri and her brother Jean-Baptiste whose lives are disrupted upon the arrival of les filles du roi in ‘New France’ (now Montreal) in 1665. They forge an unlikely relationship with the young fille Marie-Jean Lespérance - whose dream of a new life is more complicated than she could have imagined. Over the course of a year, Mohawk, French and English journeys collide, setting the stage for the Canada we know today.
This gorgeous award-winning musical in English, French and Kanien’Kéha (Mohawk) has its theatrical premiere on the stage in 2018 to glowing reviews. Critics called it “a work of monumental importance”, “heartfelt, ambitious and tremendously earnest”, “musically rich”, “a linguistic adventure”, and a “sumptuous reimagining of our history”.
A deeply moving and unique work, it’s a perfect vehicle that uncovers a perspective different from the one told by Settler culture, one that redefines the Canadian narrative. Now beautifully shot with Payette’s directorial panache, the work will have a broader reach for people to reimagine our history in more inclusive and accurate ways.
Wednesday, June 5 @ 7:00pm
Sunday, June 9 @ 3:00pm (Artist Talkback)
LOCATION: Alderney Landing Theatre
RUNTIME: 115 minutes
LANGUAGE: French, English, Mohawk
URBAN INK
Based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl'ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in Vancouver
Based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl'ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in Vancouver, Urban Ink Productions uplifts Indigenous and diverse voices through storytelling and performance. Founded in 2001, and currently under the Artistic Direction of Corey Payette, our circle of artists have broken barriers through groundbreaking productions created through collaboration and innovative practices. As we look ahead to the next 20 years to come, we continue to put the power in the hands of Indigenous and diverse artists through storytelling and performance. urbanink.ca
#LesFillesDuRoi
CREDITS
Director Corey Payette
Screenplay by Corey Payette, Julie McIsaac
Cast Kaitlyn Yott, Julie McIsaac, Raes Calvert, and Chelsea Rose
Featuring Claire Johnstone, Sean Patrick Sonier, Lisa Goebel, Kayla Dunbar, Cecilly Day, Merewyn Comeau, Synthia Yusuf, Andrew Wheeler
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Corey Payette is an interdisciplinary storyteller, writer, composer, producer, director in TV and film. He is a member of the Mattagami First Nations, with French Canadian and Irish ancestry, and lives on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl'ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
Known for his deeply moving, large-scale original musical creations, Payette’s work challenges the public’s notion of what musicals can be, inserting Indigenous perspectives and narratives into mainstream spaces, igniting conversations that inspire social change. Payette’s work explores themes of colonization, Indigenous language revitalization, cultural healing, reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and the complexity of historic and contemporary Indigenous experiences across music, theatre, and film. Payette’s deeply collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and community engaged creation process has been integral in shining a light on stories that have gone unheard for generations. In 2021, Payette received the inaugural BC Award for Reconciliation, created to honour those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia.
As a musical creator, Payette writes the music, lyrics, story, and directs his productions. His original musical Children of God has been performed across Canada since 2017, his second musical Les Filles du Roi (The King’s Daughters) written in English, French, and Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) with Julie McIsaac had its world premiere in 2018. In 2021, Payette directed a film adaptation currently in post-production to be released in 2023. In 2021, Starwalker began development under Warner Media / Access Canada writer’s program and is currently being adapted into a feature film.
As a director, most recently he made his feature film directing debut with Stories that Transform Us which premiered at Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) in 2021. Upcoming, Guide My Way concert film and Les Filles du Roi feature film to be released in 2023.
Corey holds a B.F.A. in Music Composition from York University, and composed the film score to the documentary AMIN AMIR (OMNI TV). He is the past Grand Chief of the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA) and past board member of Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society providing mental, physical, and spiritual relief to Indigenous peoples on the DTES (Vancouver, BC). He is the recipient of the John Hirsch Prize from the Canada Council, Fleck Fellowship from the Banff Centre, has won 3 Ovation Awards and 2 Jessie Awards for his writing and directing work.
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