Le passage secret

The Secret Passage

The Secret Passage invites young children to become aware of the privilege we have of living here and now.
A bird, a grandmother, a dog, a cat, a flower and a house full of surprises live in a forest-village made entirely of paper and cardboard...

With this show, Des mots d'la dynamite explores the ancient art form of shadow theater.  Reminiscent of cabaret, three performer-puppeteers sing, dance and evoke childhood memories and secrets. They curiously cross the fourth wall of the stage and raise the curtain on the immense world of imagination, thought, nature, culture and poetry. With them, we discover the keys to the secret passage between all of these worlds.

All ages: ages 4 and up
Schools: Kindergarten, first and second grade
Duration: 42 minutes
Maximum capacity: 250 people

Credits:
Original Idea | Nathalie Derome
Writing | Nathalie Derome and Frank Martel
Creation | Nathalie Derome, Audrée Southière and Kristina Troske
Performance | Nathalie Derome, Catherine Ruel, and Kristina Troske
Puppets | Kristina Troske
Lighting | Stéphane Ménigot
Set Design | Fernando Maya Meneses
Music | Jacob Vanderham, Nathalie Derome, and Frank Martel
Costume Design | Pen Tsin
Soundtrack Mixing | Olivier Tardif
Shadow Theatre Consultant | Marcelle Hudon
Artistic Collaborator | Danielle Lecourtois
Set Design Consultant | Michel Fordin
Dramaturgical Consultant | Amélie Dumoulin
Vocal Consultant | Kathy Kennedy
Technical Direction and Third Eye | Normand Vincent

The Secret Passage

A première, in co-production with Le Théâtre de la Petite Marée, Bonaventure from July 19 to August 4, 2024 (14 performances).

Montreal’s fall season opening at the Plateau Mont-Royal Maison de la culture, from September 28 to 30 (3 performances).

The Petits bonheurs festival at the Maisonneuve Maison de la culture, on May 4 and 5, 2025 (3 performances). On this occasion, actress Catherine Ruel replaced Audrée Southière for the next steps of the adventure. During the 2025-26 season, Catherine will accompany us on tour, for over 25 confirmed performances and 16 optional dates, in Montreal, Laval, Terrebonne, Sherbrooke and three towns in Abitibi.

2025-2026 Programming:

Claude-Léveillée Maison de la culture (1 performance)
Saturday, November 15 at 3 PM

Pointe-aux-trembles Maison de la culture (8 performances + 4 optional dates)
Tuesday, December 2 at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Wednesday, December 3 at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Thursday, December 4 at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Friday, December 5 at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Monday, December 8 at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM (optional dates)
Tuesday, December 9 at 9:30 and 1:30 PM (optional dates)

Côté-scène-Sherbrooke (2 performances + 2 optional dates)
Thursday, January 15: school show (time to be confirmed)
Friday, January 16: school performance (time to be confirmed) + 1 optional date
Saturday, January 17: 2 PM (family show)

Théâtre de la ville | Longueuil (3 performances + 2 optional dates)
Monday, February 2: 10 AM and 1:30 PM school show
Tuesday, February 3: 10 AM school show and 1:30 PM (optional date)
Thursday, February 4: 10 AM (optional date)
 
Maison des arts de Laval (5 performances + 4 optional dates)
Sunday, March 8: 2 PM: family show
Monday, March 9: 10 AM school show and 1 PM (optional date)
Tuesday, March 10: 10 AM school show and 1 PM (optional date)
Wednesday, March 11 mars: 10 AM school show and 1 PM (optional date)
Thursday, March 12: 10 AM school show and 1 PM (optional date)

Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne (2 performances + 2 optional dates)
Tuesday, April 14: 10 AM and 1 PM school show
Wednesday, April 15: 10 AM and 1 PM school show
 
Théâtre Téléquébec | Val-d’Or (1 performance + 1 optional date)
Sunday, May 24 family show (time to be determined)
 
Théâtre des Eskers | Amos (2 performances + 1 optional date)
Tuesday, May 26: 6:30 PM family show
Wednesday, May 27: 9 AM + 10:45 AM (optional)
 
Théâtre du Centre communautaire de Lebel-sur-Quévillon (1 performance)
Thursday, May 28 family show at 6:30 PM + prior mediation activity

Going Out = Growing Up

To facilitate student preparation before attending the show and to unleash the potential of artistic outings, we have developed a series of tools and workshops that are accessible via a new shared platform. Sortir = Grandir is an alternative to traditional workbooks that guides elementary school teachers in supporting artistic outings.
 
Through a turnkey experience, the platform provides teachers, parents, and students with the essential resources to experience a meaningful experience with the performing arts.

We invite you to visit it:
https://sortirgrandir.com/le-passage-secret

During the 25-26 season, a new series of cultural mediation activities, inspired by the show, The Secret Passage (exploring happy memories and shadow theatre techniques), will be offered to children, in preparation for school performances in the Pointe-Aux-Trembles borough (48 workshops), in Longueuil (15 workshops) and in Lebel-sur-Quévillon (1 workshop).