New theatrical memoir from Concordia artist-in-residence Shana Carroll is coming to Montreal
A new show is inviting audiences into the inner world of a former trapeze artist, Cirque du Soleil soloist and Tony Award-nominated choreographer.
The Attic: Things I've seen while lying on my back blends circus artistry, music, dance and storytelling in a theatrical memoir inspired by Shana Carroll, artist-in-residence at Concordia’s School of Performance. Carroll, who wrote, directed and choreographed the show, is a founding artistic director of Montreal-based performance contemporary theatre company, The 7 Fingers.
Following its opening at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago earlier this fall, The Attic heads first to Quebec City for a run at Le Diamant from Oct. 29 to 31, then to Montreal’s Théâtre St-Denis from Nov. 10 to 15.
An English-language performance will take place on Nov. 12.
‘It’s theatre, it’s circus’
With Carroll’s childhood bedroom as an intimate backdrop, an international cast of circus artists brings the literal ups and downs of Carroll’s life to the stage. From her earliest childhood memories to the present day, the performers embody Carroll at different points in time, revealing her thoughts, fears and hopes.
According to Ana Cappelluto, BFA 88, Concordia Theatre professor and the show’s set and props designer, the experience is not a typical one for audiences.
“This isn’t pure theatre,” Cappelluto says. “It’s theatre, it’s circus.”
For Cappelluto, the project is also deeply personal. She and Carroll are close friends and longtime collaborators, having worked together previously on projects such as Passagers and Cuisine & Confessions.
This time, Cappelluto drew set design inspiration from the source: Carroll’s childhood home in Berkeley, Calif., where Carroll’s mother still lives.
“Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time in the house, so I have lots of memories and photographs to pull from,” Cappelluto notes. “More than anything, because Shana spent her life on sets, I wanted it to look like a set, but at times, I also wanted it to look like the attic.”
Writer, director and choreographer Shana Carroll.
Hands-on experience for Concordia grads
Thanks to the Elspeth McConnell Fine Arts Award, two recent Faculty of Fine Arts graduates, Jiyeon Lee, BFA 26, and Nadia Agrebi, BFA 26, also joined The Attic’s production team. The award supports selected students in undertaking internships in non-profit arts organizations and projects.
“Seeing how every element came together to create a world that reflects Shana’s life, filled with joy, humour and tenderness, was truly touching,” says Lee, a Scenography graduate. “I’m grateful to have shared that experience with such a wonderful production team and group of acrobats.”
Agrebi, a fellow Scenography grad, worked with the show’s projection designer as a video assistant.
“I’m so grateful to be part of a project where I learned the inner workings of an established arts collective,” Agrebi says. “I got to look up from my computer to see wickedly talented circus artists flipping around.”
Following its Montreal run, The Attic will tour France in spring 2027.
View Montreal show times for The Attic.
Discover Concordia’s recently launched School of Performance.