Synopsis
Montreal, 1973. Canadian law now permits abortion. But the criteria are very restrictive, and women depend on the goodwill—more often the ill will—of the men sitting on the committees that approve or deny them. Quebec is the province where it is most difficult to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, and clandestine abortions are common: they are the leading cause of hospitalization among women. Yet Quebec society is in the midst of upheaval, and the fight for free and legal abortion is underway as an entire generation breaks free from the grip of the Catholic Church. It is in this turmoil and fervor that Quebec’s first feminist theatre troupe, Théâtre des Cuisines, is born. Their first play proclaims loudly and clearly: We Will Have the Children We Want.
A word from Tënk
With her documentary series Nous sortirons de nos cuisines (We Will Leave Our Kitchens), Jenny Cartwright offers us a testimony of extraordinary value. By tracing the history of the first feminist theatre troupe in Quebec, she paints a sweeping historical fresco of the most exhilarating decades of the women’s movement, while also shedding light on key chapters of Quebec’s history. Built from the stories of the troupe’s four members—Solange Collin, Carole Fréchette, Johanne Doré, and Véronique O’Leary—we are given a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles that led to, among other achievements, the legalization of abortion, the establishment of public daycare, the recognition of domestic labor, and maternity leave—all from the unique perspective of this revolutionary troupe.
One wonders why we haven't heard more from the women interviewed in this work—their political insight is simply astonishing. Young feminists will rejoice in gaining access to this memory, delivered with the brilliance we’ve come to expect from Cartwright, now a leading figure in audio storytelling with this ninth sound creation. The radio format could not be more fitting: it allows voices to unfold, ideas to expand, and speech to finally exist without interruption.
In this first episode, we witness the feminist awakening of the four actresses. From the social euphoria of May ’68 to formative readings, from the discovery of sexism within the progressive movement to the desire to avenge the stifled lives of their foremothers, each one feels deep in her bones the irrepressible urge to change things. The narrow world of clerical Quebec would not withstand this wind of change that swept through every sphere of society. Hearing the history of this theatre troupe told from the inside is at once deeply moving—the courage of these women!—infuriating—why have we never heard of them?—and thoroughly inspiring—it’s our turn to carry the torch of our predecessors. As women's bodies continue to be battlegrounds for patriarchal forces of destruction, let us heed the lessons of past struggles and sharpen our weapons.
Naomie Décarie-Daigneault
Tënk's Artistic Director
