Learn more about this year’s achievements and gain insight into our future initiatives by reading our annual report.
A WORD FROM THE ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
As we look back over the past year, we are filled with tremendous pride and exhilaration. Despite the complex economic and social challenges facing the performing arts, this vibrant season kept the heart of Porte Parole beating with strength and purpose. Faced with an increasingly challenging world, we chose to respond with boundless creativity and a renewed passion for our unique form of documentary theatre. Each project we undertook was powered by a bold vision and a deep commitment, all fueled by our determination to touch hearts and spark meaningful conversations about our society.
We created, produced, co-presented, measured, developed, and supported several projects that will leave a lasting mark. From our very first collaboration with the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde on the major production Projet Polytechnique, which struck a profound chord with our audience, to the English translation of Rose et la machine, Rose in the Machine, which led to our first collaboration with the National Arts Centre’s French- and English-language theatres at the same time, we have nurtured rich artistic partnerships. The subsequent tours of these two productions allowed our projects to inform, move, and inspire audiences far beyond the Greater Montreal region.
Our Documentary Hub project keeps thriving, evolving into a platform for collaboration and ideation, a space where the future of our practice is boldly taking shape. Following a highly successful second edition, the Porte Parole Pitch is now recognized as a key incubator of documentary talent and a much-anticipated annual event. The Vox Pop project, a true reflection of today’s diverse voices, has deepened our reflection and enriched our vision for future creations.
This year, we also launched a new format for our acclaimed The Assembly series, conceived especially for corporate contexts and institutions. The Assembly – Energy in Canada was performed in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal in various settings, from seminars and conferences to private functions. The initiative aims to offer groups concerned about the polarization surrounding Canada’s energy transition a creative approach to fostering productive dialogue between individuals from different sides of the issue.
Beyond these tangible achievements, it is the impact of our work that inspires us most. This year more than ever, we have taken a concrete measure of the reach of our actions, cementing our belief in the undeniable necessity of pursuing our mission.
Moreover, given the recent cuts to public funding of the arts in Quebec, we’ve been actively working to diversify our revenue streams, and to reach new audiences beyond the context of the theatre. Our business plan is currently being reimagined, with new initiatives underway to connect with diverse communities across the board.
We owe the success of this season to you: donors, partners and, of course, colleagues, volunteers and devoted collaborators. Your support empowers us to dream bigger, to create bolder, and to keep writing the Porte Parole story together. Standing side by side, we will rise to meet the challenges ahead.
— Annabel Soutar and Amandine Gauthier
