in / cognitō – a living art exhibit on mental health awareness
Following last year’s production of Part I, which premiered in the 2016 Montreal Off-Fringe Festival, in / cognitō continues to explore mental health issues in a new innovative format: a living art exhibit. With no formal seating, though seats are available, this original performance, derived from the performers’ personal struggles, is an interactive theatrical experience which puts mental health on display – literally. Audience members can come in at any time and walk through the performance space, as the actors pull off an impressive endurance piece which runs continuously, in a loop, throughout the afternoon. The public is invited to view the exhibit for as long as they like, once they have entered. Multilingual.
in / cognitō premiered at Studio Fleur D’Asphalte (Montreal, QC) on Sunday, May 28th, 2017. Open to the public between 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Funds were raised for Expressions LaSalle centre communautaire en santé mentale. The centre is the only facility on the island of Montreal which offers bilingual drama, art, music and relaxation therapy at no charge. Donations can be made, on site, during the presentation.
Performers/Creators: Jacqueline Van De Geer, Mercedeh Baroque, and Oliver Price
Director and Dramaturge: Ilana Zackon
Stage Manager: Elyse Quesnel
Graphic Design: Mercedeh Baroque
Promotional Photography: Robbie Frank
RADIO INTERVIEWS (click to listen)
UPSTAGE on CKUT, May 11th, 2017:
Wednesday Morning After on CKUT, May 26th, 2017
Part I
Part I is a bilingual performance exploring the themes of mental health and the silent struggle through a variety of performance mediums, based on the real life experiences of those directly involved in the creation of the piece. The performance premiered during the 2016 Montreal Off-Fringe Festival. Donations were raised for Expression LaSalle centre communautaire en santé mentale.
Part I premiered on June 4th, 2016 at Gallery Bliss (Montreal, QC)
Performers/Creators: Jacqueline Van der Geer, Lyne Labrie,
Ilana Zackon & Mercedeh Baroque
Director: Ilana Zackon
Stage Manager: Chana Ellman
Dramaturge: Elisha Conway
Sound Designer: Joseph Browne
Production Manager: Shannon Carranco
Third Eye / Movement Coach: Melanie Sirois
Intern: Chloe Giddings
Commercial Graphics: Mercedeh Baroque
REVIEWS:
“The show stirred me to reflect on people around me who are suffering, mostly silently, and how mental illness requires us to reach out to everyone and help cope.” (Montreal Rampage)
“Performers Mercedeh Baroque, Jacqueline Van de Geer, Lyne Labrie, and Ilana Zackon bring fierce, powerful honesty to their stories. They use the body to physically express the pain, shame, and terror of a condition beyond their control and the struggle for help.” (Curtains Up)
“An amalgam of personal stories about each actor’s encounter with a mental health issue. Zackon and the other actors tackle how they have handled circumstantial depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, a friend’ schizophrenia and eating disorders.” (Canadian Jewish News)
Re:Stage Reviews Video Review (click title to view)
TELEVISION/RADIO INTERVIEWS (click to view):
Breakfast Television Montreal, June 1st, 2016
CJLO Radio, June 7th, 2016
Philo14 Media, June 19th, 2016
Planète Montréal (102.3 FM), September 29th, 2016
