Tales of the Sun

By Philippe Soldevila | Translated by Leanna Brodie

For 8 and Up

Running Time:
55 min

Characters:
2 M | 1 F

This translation was made possible by a grant from Canada Council for the Arts.

Tales of the Sun

By Philippe Soldevila
Translated by Leanna Brodie

“A touching play on family, separation and resilience.”
Anne-Josée Cameron, ICI Radio-Canada

Étienne, 10, and Octavio, his father, have isolated themselves from each oher. Étienne prefers his screens, his father takes refuge in his work. Exploring Etienne’s Spanish great-grandmother’s childhood, in the land of the Sun, these two may yet find a way back to each other and connect the worlds of multiple generations. The last chapter of a generational and deeply personal trilogy on the immigrant journey, Conte de soleil takes us on a tour of two continents, and four generations. From Spain to Quebec, from 1917 to 2017, Conte explores identity, the encounter between cultures.

The final play in the award winning Contes de la lune trilogy, Soldevila tapped into the deeply personal and the search for belonging in Canadian culture.

This translation was made possible by a grant from Canada Council for the Arts.

Conte du soleil (2018), Théâtre des Confettis in collaboration with le Théâtre Sortie de Secours.
Photo by Loise Leblanc

About the playwright

Philippe Soldevila

Philippe Soldevila (he, him, his) is a leading francophone director, playwright, author, and translator. With a BA in French literature (Université Laval) and Theatre (University of Ottawa), he studied at the Conservatory of dramatic art of Quebec. He is the artistic director of Théâtre Sortie de Secours. In May 1998, he received the John Hirsch Award from the Canada Council for the Arts in recognition of his work as a director. He wrote and directed Tale of the Moon (Mask 2006 for Best Production for Young Audiences, Éloizes 2007 Production of the Year Award and ZOF Award of the French Cultural Federation and SAIC). His artistic approach is guided by his fascination with cultural intermingling and identity issues.

About the translator

Leanna Brodie

Leanna Brodie (she, her, hers) is an actor, playwright, and translator whose passions include lifting up the stories and voices of women, and championing a new generation of French-Canadian playwrights by transmitting their extraordinary theatrical visions into the English language. Her original plays The Vic, For Home and Country, The Book of Esther, and Schoolhouse (Talon Books) have been performed across Canada. Her translations include Christian Bégin’s After Me and Why Are You Crying?; Louise Bombardier’s My Mother Dog; Annie Brocoli’s Stardust; Rébecca Déraspe’s You Are Happy, I Am William, and Gametes; Amélie Dumoulin’s Violette; Sébastien Harrisson’s From Alaska and Two-Part Inventions; Catherine Léger’s Opium_37 and I Lost My Husband!; David Paquet’s Wildfire and The Shoe; Olivier Sylvestre’s The Paradise Arms; Philippe Soldevila’s Tales of the Moon; Larry Tremblay’s Panda Panda; and multiple plays by Hélène Ducharme of Théâtre Motus, whose acclaimed, Dora Award-winning Baobab continues to tour China and the Americas after more than 600 performances.

Translation Showcase

A Glimpse into New Translation: Tales of the Sun

A Glimpse into New Translation: Tales of the Sun

By Philippe Soldevila | Translated by Leanna Brodie
Translated from Conte du soleil (Quebec, Canada)

“…a brilliant conclusion to his trilogy on emigration, identity and resilience…
as humorous as it is moving…”
– MonThéâtre.qc.ca

Sunday March 28, 2021 | Free Event

A Glimpse into New Translation: Tales of the Snow

A Glimpse into New Translation: Tales of the Snow

By Philippe Soldevila | Translated by Leanna Brodie
Translated from Conte de la neige (Quebec, Canada)

“A moving play on family, separation and resilience.”
– ICI Radio-Canada

Sunday March 21, 2021 | Free Event

A Glimpse into New Translation: Tales of the Moon

A Glimpse into New Translation: Tales of the Moon

By Philippe Soldevila | Translated by Leanna Brodie
Inspired and adapted from the short stories of Pere Calders
Translated from Conte de la lune (Quebec, Canada)

“…the clear skies of hope, and poetry able to chase away the darkest clouds and the deepest suffering…a celebration of beauty.” – Le Soleil

Sunday March 14, 2021 | Free Event