Michel Tremblay
Michel Tremblay is Quebec theatre’s most cherished son. His writings have travelled around the world since the 1960’s, capturing the imagination of multiple generations of theatre lovers.
Born on the Plateau Mont-Royal in 1942, he grew up surrounded by the working-class Francophone community of Montreal and strong women who would later influence his work. He became a staunch advocate for marginalized communities and women’s rights and was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church’s dominance at the time. As a gay man himself, he brings a deep human understanding to his characters, depicting people of all backgrounds in his novels and plays, showcasing his love for the beautiful imperfections of humanity.
He wrote his first play, Le Train, in 1959 at the age of 17. This work earned him the first of many awards, the Young Authors Contest prize from Radio-Canada. Tremblay went on to write with remarkable frequency, producing nearly one play per year until 1990, along with several novels.
In 1968, Tremblay revolutionized Quebec theatre with the creation of Les Belles-Sœurs. This groundbreaking play, written in joual, gave a voice to working-class women and challenged the theatrical conventions of the time. It introduced a raw, authentic language that resonated deeply with Quebecers and triggered a cultural upheaval. Through this work, Tremblay broke taboos, highlighted the struggles and aspirations of a long-marginalized social class, and celebrated the vibrancy of a theatre deeply rooted in Quebec’s identity.
Les Belles-Sœurs paved the way for a series of major works, including À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou and Les anciennes odeurs. These deeply human plays explore themes of family relationships, identity, memory, and the passage of time. Tremblay portrays strong women, marginalized individuals, and artists searching for self-affirmation, giving his theatre a universal appeal.
Alongside his theatrical works, Tremblay has also had great success in literature. His novel cycle Chroniques du Plateau-Mont-Royal, beginning with La grosse femme d’à côté est enceinte, tenderly portrays the lives of his childhood neighbourhood’s residents. Through a cast of colourful and endearing characters, he paints a vivid fresco blending humour, tragedy, and the poetry of everyday life. His novels, like his plays, celebrate the resilience and inner richness of ordinary people, often overlooked by society and history.
Recognized and honoured worldwide, Tremblay has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Governor General’s Award for Drama, the Order of Canada, and the Ordre national du Québec. His influence extends far beyond Quebec, with his works being translated and performed internationally, from the rest of Canada to France and even Japan.
Over the years, Centaur Theatre has established itself as the meeting point between Quebec’s Anglophone community and Michel Tremblay’s plays by staging numerous translations of his works. The first was Albertine in Five Times (Albertine, en cinq temps) in 1985, which opened our 17th season. Several others followed, such as The Guid Sisters (Les Belles-Sœurs) in 1992, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again (Encore une fois, si vous permettez) in 1998, Past Perfect (Le Passé antérieur) in 2003, Assorted Candies (Bonbons assortis) in 2006, Forever Yours, Marie-Lou (À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou) in 2008, and Hosanna in 2018. Our production of the English-language world premiere of For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again in 1998 was one of the most popular in our history, even going on to tour North America. We are thrilled to be staging this beautiful play once again and to have the opportunity to introduce Tremblay’s work to the next generation of theatre lovers.
