This show is presented in French only.

(Dé)tourner sa langue is a performance that subverts the conventional lecture format. This hybrid work explores linguistic insecurity in Quebec, using the oral nature of language in theater as its foundation. What kind of relationship do we, as Quebecers, have with our language? What are our insecurities and hang-ups?

(Dé)tourner sa langue first invites us to a lecture—an extraordinary one, woven with poetic asides, flashbacks, skits, therapy sessions, karaoke, linguistic vignettes, and other whimsical elements. Klervi Thienpont, who holds a Master of Arts degree, is also a mother, an actress, and a theater creator. It is through her academic, professional, and—above all—personal journey that she invites us into the heart of her reflections, allowing us to experience her questions and insecurities firsthand.

By playing herself—both in her personal life and in her role as an actress and theater creator—and by giving substance to her ideas and questions, particularly regarding her own roots of linguistic insecurity, the speaker positions herself both as the subject of study and as a participant in a broader whole.

While the discussion begins with theatrical language, it very quickly broadens to encompass identity, linguistic insecurity, and a desire to break free from our barriers in order to present ourselves to the world more fully—as free individuals. Through language, Quebec identity is dissected—its wounds and its emancipation—all the way to its capacity to open up to others and to be a welcoming land.

Credits:
Text, sound and visual design, direction, and performance: Klervi Thienpont
Creative assistant: Guillaume Deman
Research director: Marie-Christine Lesage
Lighting design, technical direction, and stage management: Thomas Godefroid
Artistic advisor and dramaturg: Philippe Ducros
Poetry: Hélène Frédérick
A HÔTEL-MOTEL production

Teaser

Directions