Do you consider yourself right wing or left wing? Where do you stand on topics like immigration, the Islamic veil, QAnon? Do you sometimes find yourself politically misunderstood?

Political polarization has reached a boiling point and is putting increasing pressure on the practice of democracy. Annabel Soutar teams up with Alex Ivanovici and Brett Watson to create a thrilling theatrical response to the rise of extremism and tribalism in political discourse today.

The Assembly is not a battle of abstract ideologies, it’s a very human encounter between unique people. And although their dialogue is not always rational, the four Assembly characters express emotions and personal experiences that we can relate to, even if we don’t always agree with them.


Each episode is different

The Assembly started in 2017 as a long-term documentary project. In each touring city, the play’s creative team sets up and records encounters in which four strangers of wildly different ideological leanings face off and candidly confront the issues that most divide them. A play script is created from the verbatim content of these recorded encounters and, on stage, actors play the four real-life characters in unique debate-like plays, specific to each city.

One city at a time, one episode at a time, The Assemblyweaves together the different threads of our social fabric. The series thus creates a safe but challenging space for open democratic discussion, where everyone who is ready to engage in a real dialogue can speak freely.

Digital edition

The Assembly also exists in a 100% digital format. The theatre framework is replaced by a live, web streamed dialogue without actors in which four citizens speak on their own behalf with the support of two moderators.

The tragic reality of our mutual deafness and lack of respect for those with whom we disagree has never been so palpable.

Projects in this Series

The Assembly - Montreal

In this episode, four citizens confront their ideas on freedom of speech and immigration.

L'Assemblée - Montréal

In this episode, four citizens confront their ideas on national identity, reasonable accommodations and feminism.  (In French)

The Assembly – Kaunas

In this episode which takes place against a backdrop of generational and moral divides, four Lithuanian citizens discuss their differences about abortion, LGBTQ rights and aggressions. (In Lithuanian)

Assemblee Sao Paolo

The Assembly - Sao Paolo

In this episode that takes place at the height of the pandemic, when thousands are dying every day in Brazil, a group of four Bazilian citizens discuss their differences about race, liberalism and economic disparity. (In Portuguese)

The Assembly - Munich

The Assembly – Munich (Die Versammlung)

In this episode, four citizens confront their ideas on German identity, inclusivity, racism against Arab immigrants and migrants, and fear that right wing nationalism might be on the rise again. (In German)

The Assembly - University of Maryland

In this episode, four citizens confront their ideas on racism, affirmative action, free speech and identity politics on university campuses.

Porte Parole is grateful to our donors for their support.

Conseil des arts du Canada / Canada Council for the ArtsConseil des arts et des lettres du QuébecConseil des arts de Montréal