The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film presents The Weight of Ants by David Paquet, translated by Leanna Brodie. This absurd, poetic, and surreal comedy explores how young people deal with the reality of a dying planet. It is a scream of rage that transforms into hope through cooperative action. The play will be performed by the Acting III: Honours class and directed by faculty member Hope McIntyre from February 10 to 14, 2026.
The original French version of the play premiered in 2019 in Montreal. The translation went on to win the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama and the Playwrights Guild of Canada Tom Hendry Award. Set at an unnamed high school where no one seems to care about anything, two characters make a powerful connection. Joan is hell-bent on tearing everything down and reacts to her anxiety about the dying world with rage. Meanwhile, Olivier is determined not to lose his optimism and tries to escape from his own anxious nightmares. Together they find a way forward.
Responsible theatre practices used
This production is also supported by the University of Winnipeg Experiential Learning fund, allowing for the integration of responsible theatre practices, with a focus on accessibility and environmental sustainability. The show will offer a sensory-friendly performance, in addition to ASL interpretation and an audio described performance. In order to remain true to the content of the play, environmentally sustainable practices are being used in the rehearsal and production of the performance.
The Weight of Ants is an extremely relevant script for the cast of 11 students. It allows them to explore how to navigate the changing world around them, while also presenting a rare opportunity as young artists to tackle a work written specifically about youth. Director Hope McIntyre shares: “It is incredible to see the cast support each other in exploring their own climate anxiety, while also finding a pathway for positive change.”
This UWinnipeg production features costume design by faculty member Sean McMullen, scenic design by student Amanda Jones, and lighting design by recent graduate Lovissa Wiens. All technical work is done by both junior and senior production students.
Showtimes and tickets
The Weight of Ants runs Tuesday, February 10 through Friday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. each evening and on Saturday, February 14 at 4 p.m. February 12 will be a sensory-friendly performance, February 13 will include ASL interpretation, and February 14 will be an audio described performance with VIEW (Vocal Image Ensemble Winnipeg).
Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Please call the 24-hour Reservation Line at 204.786.9152 or visit UWinnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film website at http://theatre.uwinnipeg.ca
Based in the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film at The University of Winnipeg, the Department of Theatre and Film offers concentrations in acting, design, drama in education, filmmaking, playwriting, and production/stage management. Our classes are small and our approach is practical. Our faculty is comprised of highly respected and award-winning professionals who are experienced teachers and remain active in their disciplines, bringing relevant and up-to-date instruction to our students.
