I Am William

Margaret Shakespeare, age 13, must write her remarkable plays in secret: it is 1577, and a girl who can read and write is in danger from the witch-hunters. After all, as her father keeps reminding her, a woman’s place is in the home…next to a big pile of laundry. Once the sweet but dim William discovers his sister’s astonishing talent, a chain of events is set in motion that will change both their lives forever. What happens to women of genius in a world that wants only their silence? Can a sister’s determination &#8212 and a brother’s unfailing love &#8212 really conquer all? Seamlessly translated from the original French by Leanna Brodie, this strikingly original play with music tackles the big feminist questions with wit, heart, and infectious energy. Winner of Quebec’s prestigious Prix de la critique and Prix Louise-Lahaye, R&#233becca D&#233raspe’s I Am William has toured France, Spain, and the province of Quebec to great acclaim. This English version, commissioned by Theatre Le Clou, was also a hit at the Stratford Festival.

AUTHOR

Rébecca Déraspe

Rebecca Deraspe graduated from the playwriting program of the National Theatre School of Canada in May 2010. She is the author of several plays which have been translated and produced internationally, including Deux ans de votre vie (English title: You Are Happy); Gametes (English title: Gametes); Je suis William (English title: I Am William); Faire la le&#231on (English title: The Lessons); Plus que toi; Peau d’ours; Nino; Le merveilleux voyage de Real de Montreal; Partout ailleurs; Nos petits doigts; Ceux qui se sont evapores; and Fanny. She is currently Playwright-in-Residence at Montreal’s Thetre la Licorne. Her work has been awarded the 2010 Prix BMO (for You Are Happy); the 2017 Montreal theatre critics’ prize for Best New Play (Gametes); the 2018 Montreal theatre critics’ prize for Best New Play for Young Audiences as well as the Prix Louise-Lahaye (I Am William); and most recently, the Prix Michel-Tremblay, for her new play Ceux qui se sont evapores. She is also the writer and host of the web series Le lexique de la polemique, produced and distributed by Savoir Media.

AUTHOR

Leanna Brodie

Leanna Brodie is an actress, writer, and literary translator of several works, including Sébastien Harrisson’s From Alaska, Hélène Ducharme’s Baobab, and Louise Bombardier’s My Mother Dog, to name a few. She has also written numerous plays that have toured Canada, as well as the CBC Radio dramas Invisible City and Seeds of Our Destruction. Most recently, Leanna attended Tapestry’s renowned composer-librettist laboratory, and has since worked on operas, including Opera on the Rocks. Her play The Book of Esther was published in 2012 by Talonbooks.

Reviews

“CRITIC’S PICK: Fresh and delightful.” &#8212 Kelly Nestruck, Globe and Mail

“A clever, funny, and thoughtful family-friendly production that is sure to have theatre-goers of all ages engaging in meaningful conversations one minute, while singing a catchy ‘horse’ song to themselves the next.” &#8212 BroadwayWorld.com

“I Am William radiates both charm and substance…D&#233raspe’s clever faux-Shakespeare could be the real thing in terms of rhythm and rhyme, and I stand in awe of the playwright’s long-time translator, Leanna Brodie, who rendered the lines into Shakespearean English.” &#8212 Paula Citron, ludwig-van.com

“R&#233becca D&#233raspe has written a wonderful play in I Am William and it is beautifully translated by Leanna Brodie. The language dazzles. At times it seems we are witnessing linguistic gymnastics on the level of Simone Biles &#8212 words and syllables rhyme in triplicate. Women and girls are championed and credited with creativity and tenacity at a time when both were dangerous.” &#8212 The Slotkin Letter

“Balances lighthearted comedy with heartfelt emotion to explore themes of gender equality and societal oppression…If younger audience members can take just one lesson from I Am William, it’s this: true talent comes in all forms, sizes, genders and races.” &#8212London Free Press

“The young protagonists of I Am William explicitly aspire to the total emancipation of girls and boys from our gendered expectations of them. A text as playful as it is intelligent, and as sensitive as it is politically engaged. Its sense of humour, among other things, ensures that the script never veers into the didactic, much less into moralizing. &#8212 JEU magazine

“R&#233becca D&#233raspe offers us a brilliant text, blending truth and fiction in order to speak of love and the power of dreams. &#8212 montheatre.qc.ca

“An inspiring play for all ages.” &#8212 Huffington Post