Our University of the Streets Café public conversations are much like any you’d have with friends or family around a dinner table, except with more people, more points of view, and slightly more structure. Conversations are hosted by a volunteer moderator who is there to welcome everyone and keep things on track. To get things started, there’s a guest, or sometimes two, who get the ball rolling by sharing their ideas, experiences and questions. After that, it's all up to the participants.

« Wendy lives in a self-sustaining trunk. When she stumbles across a border guarded by Ernesto, she faces the obstacle of not having any papers. A story inspired by life experiences. An onomatopoeic story dedicated to all those who live across borders»

The 14th of September marks 10 years that « Sunk in the Trunk, a clown’s wonderful struggle with immigration » was premiered at MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels). This story was about frontiers, about solitude. It was about the fear of the other and the struggle for territory: an inquiry into what might lie between the lines that define borders and what happens when those conventions are challenged.  This show was created with just toilet paper, plungers and the amazing support of MAI, and it toured for five years, in theatres, school gymnasiums, streets, libraries and at the border through Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Switzerland.
 
On May 1, 2006, thousands of undocumented Latinos marked the "Day Without Immigrants," when more than 500,000 rallied in Los Angeles to demand a pathway to citizenship forming one of the largest demonstrations for immigrant rights in United States history.  Ten years later, with thousands of refugees dangerously making their way towards Europe, Donald Trump promising to build a wall to keep Mexicans out of the US and the UK voting to alienate themselves from the rest of Europe, Sunk in the Trunk seems more relevant than ever. This play used laughter to open up a safe conversation about borders. Let’s do that one more time.

Guest:
Chilean-Trinidadian-Honduran-British-now Canadian Lynne Cooper, stands out for her very singular story: that of a multilingual immigrant, mother, clown, actor, artistic director of Le Trunk Collectif and creator of " Sunk in the Trunk ". Her mix of cultures and languages are an essential part of her artistic work which is coloured by the fact that she grew up in a suitcase.

Moderator:
Carmen Ruiz is a choreographer, dancer, teacher and producer. Originally from Colombia, she situates her artistic practice as a spark for the body in motion and the re-invention of individual and collective narratives. Along with her partner Sebastian Mejia, she founded the non-profit organization Girovago, which has the mission to support art in motion. Since 2012 she is the artistic co-director and manager of Montreal performance ensemble Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra.

Accessibility info: The MAI is on the ground floor. Washrooms contain wheelchair accessible stalls.