Fais-moi la poésie

Come discover the power of the word, in its many different forms, at the ninth edition of the Quinzaine de la poésie, running from March 13 to 29 this year. Slam battles, spoken word, performance art, music, exhibitions and singing are all put to brilliant use by talented poets from here and abroad, by voices from today and yesteryear.

Check out the complete schedule of events (in French)

Festival Spokesman: Henri Chassé, actor and poet

“I’ve often played roles that had a poetic basis of some kind, and I’m a strong believer in the power of words and poetry, in the way they influence my career and my personal life. So it gives me great pleasure to take part in the Quinzaine de la poésie, and help others enjoy a form of creativity that has given me so much.”

Profile

Henri Chassé is a poet and an actor well known to Quebec audiences for his many performances in television, film and stage productions. He has been in the cast of numerous popular plays, especially at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, and his film appearances include Post Mortem by Louis Bélanger and Congorama by Philippe Falardeau. In 2002, he won a Gémeaux Award as Best Male Actor for his performance in Le monde de Charlotte. And he serves as both actor and poet in Loui Maufette’s wild literary banquet and stage show, Poésie, sandwichs et autres soirs qui penchent. He is a frequent contributor to the Trois-Rivières International Poetry Festival. His published work can be found in many issues of Exit magazine, and in two collections put out by Écrits des Forges Editions: Secrets Blanchis (2003) and Morceaux de tempête (2008).

Two special highlights for poetry fans . . .

Slam battle royal!

Spécial slam sauvage Among the many great events scheduled for the Quinzaine, don’t miss the Slam Poetry Specials hosted by the poet, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known as IVY. He and his team of slam poets are ready to let the word run loose at open-air venues around town, and at slam sessions created especially for teen audiences.

This March, don’t be surprised if you run into Ivy and his quick-mouthed mates as you stroll through the city’s different boroughs! They’re dedicated to the idea that real poetry is a creature of the wild, so keep your eyes peeled -- and your ears well tuned!

Check out the IVY web site

The following boroughs are on the itinerary:

Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
LaSalle
Le Sud-Ouest
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Saint-Léonard
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension

Publisher spotlights

A special idea from the publishing houses. As a preview of this edition of the festival, local poets will read from their published collections at some local shows.