Resistance committee seeks apology for SLAV
Members want theatre to diversify its programming
The group calling itself the SLAV Resistance Committee wants a Montreal theatre to apologize for hosting the controversial show, one of several demands it is making in the wake of the show’s cancellation.
Composed of members of Montreal’s black community, the group pointed out inaccuracies in the “theatrical odyssey based on slave songs.” The show, directed by Robert Lepage and starring Betty Bonifassi, was performed as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, which has raised issues of cultural appropriation.
Among its demands were that Théâtre du nouveau monde apologize for hosting SLAV and diversify their programming.
“The TNM is not a neutral actor in this,” said SRC member Ricardo Lamour. “It has questions to ask itself regarding its programming beyond SLAV. (TNM artistic director Lorraine) Pintal has been quiet on the subject to this point, but … as one of the biggest francophone theatres in North America, it has questions to answer about how theatre can play a role as a leader in the change necessary for all the (talented artists of colour) coming out of our schools, waiting in the service lane for opportunities, to serve the diversity that is overflowing in Montreal.”
Among the SRC’s other demands are that the jazz fest institute an equity policy with targets for artists from black, Indigenous and other communities; that the Quebec government rectify inequalities in funding for the arts; that jazz fest sponsor TD Bank respect its professed commitment to diversity; that Quebec media organizations provide equal space to black voices, black journalists and journalists of colour; and that the Montreal public respect peaceful protesters and their privacy, and cease threats to protesters.
Members of the SRC were among a group of approximately 12 people from the black community who met with jazz fest president and general director Jacques-André Dupont and vice-president of programming Laurent Saulnier for four hours on Friday.
The meeting was organized and mediated by Dorothy Alexandre, an entrepreneur and panel moderator in order to create a dialogue between the jazz fest and the black community, according to the SRC.
At the jazz fest’s closing press conference on Saturday, Dupont said that the meeting taught fest organizers that they “should listen more” and that “there are issues for Montreal’s black community that we don’t get.”
That message was greeted with enthusiasm by the SRC.
“We think what the jazz festival said is how it should be,” said Lucas Charlie Rose, organizer of the anti-SLAV protest that took place outside TNM on opening night, June 26.
“It’s a first step to say ‘We didn’t listen enough, now we’re going to listen.’ … It takes an enormous amount of courage, and it’s the right thing to do.”
Members of the SRC and other participants from black community “came out humanized,” Rose said. “At the beginning (of the controversy), we were treated with animosity in the media. Sitting in front of them, they realized we’re human, we’re not dangerous.”
“Some of us are journalists,” Lamour said, “some are artists who have performed at the jazz fest and Les FrancoFolies. We’re just normal human beings standing up for what we believe is right, in a context that is very hostile to these types of conversations.”
Lamour alluded to mixed messages from Bonifassi, Lepage and the jazz fest concerning SLAV’s cancellation. The show ran for the first three of its scheduled 16 nights, following which Bonifassi broke her ankle.
At its closing press conference, the jazz fest revealed that the decision to cancel was due to Bonifassi’s broken ankle and security concerns around the show. Bonifassi and Lepage, meanwhile, have painted themselves as victims of censorship.
“By who?” Lamour asked. “By (black) people who are censored daily? And (Bonifassi) is representing the stories of the ancestors of these people?”
The SRC said it has no plans to protest SLAV performances scheduled around Quebec in January.
“We feel that we have expressed ourselves,” said SRC member Elena Stoodley. “We hope the TNM is open to listening. We hope Ex Machina and Robert Lepage are open to listening, or even dialogue if they want — but that is not our decision.”
In the immediate future, the SRC and the group Songs for Betty are organizing a concert Saturday at 8 p.m. at Casa del Popolo featuring performances by artists from Montreal’s black community.
“The goal is to show people out there putting on shows like SLAV that black artists exist,” Rose said, “that we’re talented and available.”
IT’S A FIRST STEP TO SAY ‘WE DIDN’T LISTEN ENOUGH, NOW WE’RE GOING TO LISTEN.’